The Boeing Company

Joseph David Shoore

Gregory Allen Roberts

John Ferencz Takacs

Stephen M Stecko

Gordon S Hewitt

Gordon R Jefferson

Controllable refueling drogues and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes a fuel delivery device having a deployable portion configured to be deployed overboard an aircraft during aerial refueling. The deployable portion can include at least a portion of a flexible fuel line, a drogue coupled to the flexible fuel line, and an actuatable device operatively coupled to at least one of the drogue and the fuel line. The deployable portion can further include a guidance system that is operatively coupled to the actuatable device and that includes instructions to direct the operation of the actuatable device and move the drogue during flight.

Controllable refueling drogues and associated systems and methods

An illuminating system, device, and method are provided to illuminate an in-flight refueling operation involving a first aircraft, serving as a tanker aircraft and carrying the illuminating system of the present invention, and a second aircraft, entering an in-flight refueling position relative to the first aircraft. The system, device, and method of the present invention provide eye-safe, covert illumination suitable for illuminating the in-flight refueling position such that the second aircraft is illuminated upon entering the in-flight refueling position.

Method of illumination for in-flight refueling

Illuminating system, device, and method for in-flight refueling

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Costa Mesa, CA, United States of America

Joseph David Shoore