Does this happen?
I snapped this pic today of 2 planes flying at the same speed, one on top of the other. It’s kinda hard to see so I’ve spot shadowed it. It looks like a smaller jet refueling a larger jet… but who knows:
It is sure a possibility… I know back in HS when I was in the CAP I flew with the air-refueling wing that flew out of Mitchell Field (Milwaukee, WI) a few times a year, and they did refueling all over the place, wherever they needed.
Docking
yes, it happens, but not that often, hmm makes me think some training is going on, or making sure canada stays north…
Sneekin the rez gas.
Ya it used to happen for training. When I was in high school, I took a tour of the NF Air Force base. We rode on a KC-130 and got to lay in the pod while they refueled a series of F-16’s that were air bone from Syracuse.
Wow that definitely beats a day in class. Were you in some kind of special program or something?
Pretty sure Niagara Falls AFB hosts KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-10 Extenders. The “K” designator indicates tanker aircraft. Hard to tell from that pic, but entirely possible.
I was in Civil Air Patrol in high school when I was really looking into being a naval aviator or going to the Air Force academy after school since the program was a way to get a head start on it. Got to do ground search and rescue stuff, shooting, first aid training, rappelling up and down rock walls, doing PT tests on military bases like Fort Drum, and flying when I was in high school which was pretty bad ass.
Only c-130’s out at NFAB these days. The KC-135’s went to maine I think. Its possible it was an AR but probably just formation stuff. The AR is done in a racetrack pattern, it would block up air traffic if it was done over the city.
Did the same myself; Took the trip to Colorado Springs in '96 to visit the Air Force Academy. I got out when I left for college as a Cadet Captain.
Ya it was a cool experience. I was in for about a year and a half and got up to A1C I think. Once I decided to not go the military route, I didn’t really give too much effort to it other than hang out with people I knew involved. I did a lot of the trips which were so fun. I remember some idiots getting drunk on Listerine at some of the encampments and puking green during the morning PT.
I wouldn’t mind getting back involved with the program. I have been looking for a local opportunity or organization to get involved with now that I know I am living in Buffalo for at least another 2 years.