Energy Absorbing Aerial Refueling Hose

The goal of this project was to help reduce or eliminate the potentially catastrophic effects of a failed hose/drogue system during aerial refueling. Failures can arise in certain situations when the receiver aircraft engages the hose at too high of a speed cause a wave to be generated in the hose. This wave reflects off the reel and creates a whipping motion at the drogue with the potential to break the hose. The reel was designed to take up slack when the receiver aircraft engages, however it could be inoperative, or simply not capable of taking up the slack fast enough. Mid proposes to incorporate energy absorbing material directly into the hose to help mitigate these potentially catastrophic occurrences. The material will not interfere with the current operation of the hose and reel and provide the United States military with the benefit of a much safer and more reliable probe and drogue refueling system.