Aerial day/night refueling stations

An aerial refueling system comprising:

• a. a tanker aircraft having a refueling line depending rearwardly thereof;
• b. a receiver aircraft having means thereon for engaging said refueling line;
• c. infrared lighting means positioned on said tanker aircraft above said refueling line for illuminating said refueling line and receiver aircraft so as to cast a shadow of said refueling line on said receiver aircraft when said receiver aircraft is in close proximity to said line behind and below said tanker, said shadow serving as an indicia of the distance from said line to said engaging means on said receiver aircraft;
• and
• d. infrared sensitive viewing means disposed on said tanker aircraft through which said receiver aircraft, refueling line, and the shadow of said refueling line cast on said receiver aircraft by said infrared lighting means may be simultaneously viewed.