Air Force Reverse Refuels KC-10 Tanker with ‘Floating Gas Station’

The reverse flow air refueling test was conducted by the 22nd Airlift Squadron (AS) operating the Air Force's largest aircraft—a C-5M Super Galaxy—during an exercise over Northern California and Oregon on December 12. 

Typical aerial refueling is conducted by a KC-135, KC-10 or KC-46A Pegasus, which deliver fuel to other aircraft. During the exercise, the Super Galaxy aircrew reversed the process, topping off the KC-10 Extender with 23,500 pounds of fuel in about 30 minutes.

It was the first time the C-5M was used to reverse refuel another, according to Major Justin Wilson, 22nd AS chief of standards and evaluations and C-5M evaluator pilot.

“By using a C-5 as a huge, floating gas station, it allows more tankers to be positioned for offloading to fighter or mobility aircraft, versus having to use one tanker to refuel another, which takes away a tanker asset from the mission,” Wilson said in a statement. “This allows more tanker aircraft in the theater and extends their range or orbit time.” 

During the test, the aircrew was able to gather data that could be used for future operations, according to Wilson. 

“By doing reverse air refueling, the aircraft is getting lighter at a quicker rate than if you were just flying normally, so the aircraft flies a little different,” Wilson said.