#Tanker Refits for Various Aircraft

25 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

fallen rampart
#

As an offshoot to the suggestion I made about drop tanks, I will now propose the idea of tanker refits to various existing airframes, and the possibility of an entirely new multipurpose airframe that can be used for large-scale transportation and refueling purposes.

The first solution, including refits for the VL-49 Tarantula and SFB-81 Darkreach, will consist of loadout options involving the retrofitting of large fuel tanks in the bays of these aircraft, allowing the aircraft to serve as tankers, preferably through the probe-and-drogue method as boom method functionality would be questionable. The exact fuel capacity of these arrangements are unknown to me, however, the KCV-49 Tarantula-T and KC-81 Longreach could serve as a good stop-gap until a dedicated airframe is introduced.

An offshoot of the first solution is Buddy Buddy refueling, where a Revoker, Vortex, Compass, or Ifrit with full tanks loads and a drogue pod could refuel 1-4 other fighters where a lack of proper tankers is clear.

The second solution is a dedicated new airframe that could serve as a high-capacity transport/tanker. This new airframe would be capable of refueling many aircraft at once, or aerial drop of multiple light units or 1-2 MBTs. A way to visualize the capabilities I envision are to picture a mix between the KC-135 and C-5.

As always, comments and discussions are always welcome and encouraged. Please leave any questions or comments below.

99A89BD7-F26B-4B98-B906-80B6CD1A05FC.jpg 97017C72-E43E-4857-9B14-D7C29FD9D617.jpg 7FA640A3-2FA1-4BE2-9EFB-794A3DF7EF7F.jpg
steady tapir
#

Realistically a medusa is probably the best option for fixed wing aircraft

For rotor aircraft a tarantula is also a really good option

deft belfry
#

what the hell is going on here

image.png
steady tapir
deft belfry
#

in STOVL mode, with full afterburner

velvet lantern
strong monolith
#

F-35B can refuel midair from a C-130 just fine

That image is a photoshopped F-35B refueling from an Osprey

IMG_7383.webp
steady tapir
near seal
#

Yeah, sure, tankers would be fun, just for the sake of all gods do not request the tanker to be another VTOL...

strong monolith
#

Pretty much every aircraft has the potential to equip a probe for in air refueling, and all of the fighters/Medusa/Tarantula/Darkreach could act as tankers (either through buddy refueling or dedicated tanker modifications)

#

It’s feasible for the Chicane to get a refueling boom to allow for in air refueling as a modification as well

IMG_7385.jpg
velvet lantern
#

I think the main question here would be: Why?

#

It isn't like we have massive maps that need mid-air refueling

dreamy lion
fallen rampart
crude spear
#

are larger maps even in the cards? I thought ingus was a rectangle because Unity wasn't able to do a square that size

fallen rampart
robust bear
#

It seems to me that the only aircraft that really needs it, and not as a entertainment feature for one evening after patch release is Medusa, because it's the only aircraft that is enough just to be in the air to be useful (even without radome, because tracking of moving ships by their radar is also very important), and only Medusa has an infinite weapon for the work of which you need literally only your engines working

strong monolith
#

I mean, if there was in air refueling I’d take less fuel in fighters and top off if needed

That and fuel dump mechanics would be awesome

near seal
# fallen rampart Larger maps are on the roadmap, so maybe

I'm with the game for more than a year, I think since Medusa update, and I did not notice that the roadmap would change eventhough most of the stuff there was in updates released. I mean beside the exotic stuff like VR, most of what is on the road map was not in the game and is there now, that said, things like 'more of x' are kinda open ended declarations and we definitely do receive loads 'more of x' for most of those ❤️

tame bay
#

I feel like this makes more sense with the new map.

#

But I'd argue for external drop tanks to compliment this.

fallen rampart