This is what refueling a B-1B bomber over Afghanistan looks like

November 9, 2013 David Cenciotti Military Aviation 6

A lonely B-1B Lancer flying a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Southern Afghanistan, refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron on Nov. 6, 2013.

The video is particularly interesting as it lets you understand how difficult maneuvering such a large bomber in the proper position to enable air-to-air refueling can be. And keep that position is a bit tricky.

Note the B-1 seemingly going into (minimum?) afterburner regime shortly after finishing the refueling operation, while breaking off the tanker.

About David Cenciotti 3863 Articles

David Cenciotti is a freelance journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written four books.