"IN ESTONIAN AIRSPACE - For most people cruising along at 30,000 feet, it's pretty unusual to look out the window on a flight and see fighter jets. But for the crew of this Royal Air Force Voyager, a British aerial refueling tanker, it's just a regular day. They're tasked with linking up with fighters in flight, matching their speed, and pumping fuel midair to keep those jets airborne and on mission for longer than their tanks alone allow."
"Business Insider joined a Voyager crew in late November for a nearly nine-hour mission that launched from an RAF base in England, crossed the Baltic Sea to the edge of Eastern Europe, and looped past Russian territory on the way home. During the flight, the Voyager refueled several British Eurofighter Typhoons, twin-engine multirole fighter jets manufactured by a consortium of European aerospace companies."
"Refueling a fighter jet in the air takes roughly 10 minutes, a process that can be longer for larger aircraft, such as the E-3 Sentry, a surveillance plane. The Voyager offloaded about 20 of the 109 metric tons it can carry to the various aircraft during last week's flight. The Voyager aircraft features two underwing pods equipped with retractable hoses and small"
A Royal Air Force Voyager tanker conducted a nearly nine-hour mission from an RAF base in England across the Baltic Sea to the edge of Eastern Europe and back, refueling multiple fighter jets in flight. The Voyager linked up with Eurofighter Typhoons and JAS 39 Gripens, matching speeds and pumping fuel midair to extend mission endurance. Refueling a fighter takes roughly 10 minutes and can be longer for larger aircraft. The Voyager offloaded about 20 of its 109 metric ton capacity and features two underwing pods equipped with retractable hoses. The Typhoon entered service in 2003 and is operated by several NATO countries; the Gripen, introduced in the mid-1990s, is operated by fewer countries and is slated for Ukrainian procurement.
Read at Business Insider
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