Hose and drogue boom refueling system, for aircraft

In an aerial refueling system for refueling aircraft in flight from a tanker airplane, via a fuel supply hose and drogue, the tanker having a fuselage extending lengthwise of the aircraft, the combination comprising

• a) an elongated boom having inboard and outboard end portions, and having pivotal support means at said inboard end portion to accommodate pivoting of the boom between retracted position directly adjacent the airplane lengthwise extending fuselage and extended position in which the boom projects away from the fuselage,
• b) the boom having a hose and drogue guide at said boom outboard end portion to guide endwise extension and retraction of the hose and drogue, to and from aircraft refueling deployed position,
• c) and hose and drogue control means carried by the aircraft fuselage for effecting storage, and hose and drogue endwise extension and retraction, via said guide,
• d) the boom having a drag-reducing, elongated, streamline fairing surface to face in a forward direction toward the oncoming air flow relative to the tanker airplane direction of forward flight, during boom extension and retraction,
• e) said control means including a hose storage reel, there being a compartment within the fuselage, said control means including a hose storage reel located within said compartment, said compartment having a side opening adjacent which the boom extends in said retracted position thereof,
• f) said boom pivotal support means having an axis offset from the reel.