Distance measuring using passive visual means

An aircraft refueling boom distance measuring system comprising:

• at least one refueling boom adapted to be supported from a refueling aircraft, at least one camera and a computer installed thereon;
• each said refueling boom having a boom nozzle;
• said boom nozzle being connectable with a receiving aircraft refueling receptacle;
• each said camera forming a plurality of images of both said boom nozzle and said refueling receptacle;
• and
• said computer receiving each said image for analysis to extrapolate therefrom a distance between said boom nozzle and said refueling receptacle.

A method to measure a distance between an aircraft refueling boom and a receiving aircraft comprising the steps of:

• installing a refueling boom having a boom nozzle, at least one camera and a computer on a refueling aircraft;
• steering said boom nozzle towards a connection with a refueling receptacle of one of a plurality of receiving aircraft;
• creating a plurality of images of both said boom nozzle and said refueling receptacle with said camera;
• and
• using said computer to calculate a distance between said boom nozzle and said refueling receptacle using said images.