Close call: E-3 AWACS almost collides with KC-135 tanker mid-air
Oct 19 2012 - 4 Comments
It must have been one of the most frightening view in the career of the KC-135’s flying boom operator.
A NATO E-3 Sentry almost hit the tail of the tanker and its flying boom during air-to-air refueling operations. Not only the close proximity of the two large planes was dangerous, but also the evasive maneuver the pilot performs to avoid collision: the AWACS (airborne early warning and control plane) pulls several negative G-forces to gain quick separation from the refueler.
According to the user who uploaded it to Youtube, the aircraft was damaged and some crew members hurt as a consequence of the maneuver.
