Boom member for refueling air vehicles

Boom member configured for enabling in-flight refueling of a receiver aircraft, the boom member comprising a first boom member portion, a second boom member portion, and a connect/disconnect mechanism:

• the first boom member portion including a first boom lumen, a first boom axis, and a fuel receiving end, the fuel receiving end configured for receiving fuel from a fuel source and for enabling delivering fuel via the first boom lumen;
• the second boom member portion including a second boom lumen, a second boom axis, and a fuel delivery end, the fuel delivery end comprising a fuel delivery nozzle configured for selectively engaging with a fuel receptacle of the receiver aircraft;
• the connect/disconnect mechanism being configured for:
• selectively enabling the first boom member portion to be connected with respect to the second boom member portion to provide a connected configuration, such that free fluid communication is provided between the first boom lumen and the second boom lumen;
• and
• selectively enabling actively disconnecting the first boom member portion with respect to the second boom member portion to provide a disconnected configuration responsive to receiving a disconnection activation signal.