Laughlin AFB testing 3K commercial refuelers

A 90-day beta test has been running at Laughlin Air Force Base since October to assess the feasibility of using a 3K commercial refueler on the flight line.

Rudy Losoya, 47th Logistics Readiness Flight aircraft services, operates a 3K commercial refueler on the flight line, on Nov. 9, 2020, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. This vehicle saves up to a minute on the fueling process per plane. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David Phaff)
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The commercial refueler can hold 3,000 gallons of fuel while the military grade R-11 refueler has twice the capacity.

However, the R-11 fleet is aging and the flying branch would like to see if the commercial refueler can handle the operational requirements and free up the R-11s for deployment overseas.

So far, testing found that the new refueler works best with small aircraft such as the T-6A and refueling was faster and more efficient than the R-11.

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