IN-FLIGHT REFUELING SYSTEM, BLADDER DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING OSCILLATIONS IN IN-FLIGHT REFUELING SYSTEM COMPONENTS

摘要

An in-flight refueling system, bladder device and method are provided for enhancing the stability of an elongate hose extending from a tanker aircraft (110) during an in-flight refueling operation. The various embodiments of the present invention provide a compact, lightweight, and low-profile bladder device (130) that may fill with fuel from a fuel conduit defined in the elongate hose (114) so as to minimize the occurrence of oscillations within the elongate hose (114) by selectively adding additional weight to a portion of the elongate hose (114) . Thus, embodiments of the present invention may minimize the occurrence of oscillations in the elongate hose (114) by stabilizing the elongate hose (114) as it extends from the tanker aircraft (110) during an in-flight refueling operation.