An Innovative In-Flight Refueling Probe Component that Eliminates Accidental Overload of the Mast Assemble During Air Refueling

gggGiven the U.S. Navy’s goal to eliminate the potential loss of an F-35/Joint Strike Fighter aircraft during in-flight refueling operations it is desirable to modify today’s probe and drogue system that is based on a “weak link” design. Refueling hose-whip is a long standing problem that leads to stress overloading of refueling components, which in turn break off leading to catastrophic Foreign Object Damage (FOD) to the single fighter engine. In response to this potential danger of losing the engine, Design By Analysis, Inc. (DBA) of New Britain, Connecticut, proposes to develop a detailed understanding of the physics of hose-whip and use it, together with newly available nanotechnology, to engineer a novel, robust probe concept that can be quickly developed and introduced into the field as a finished product. DBA is a developer of innovative fuel delivery systems, with extensive experience in the design, analysis and testing of flight mechanical components. DBA calls this new probe a Reliable Energy Absorbing Probe (REAPTM) to highlight the key features it intends to incorporate into this design. Namely, the REAPTM probe will provide both flexibility and energy dissipation to dampen system response to protect against overload forces from hose whip.