![Refuel_Feature.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fd1kqib0uq4v1gs.cloudfront.net%2Fwp-content%2Fgallery%2Fmain_gallery%2FRefuel_Feature.jpg%3Fi%3D287440205&hash=d7390e9351260190b8cca373db856a5e)
In-Flight Refueling of Fighter Aircraft Design Study is a report dated October 26, 1949 that was prepared by the Engineering & Research Division of All American Airways, Inc. of Wilmington, Delaware for the US Air Force under contract no. AF33(038)-2276. This 24 page PDF contains 3 high resolution photos and 7 drawings of various unusual in-flight refueling schemes, most of the concepts involving the physical insertion of the nose of a Lockheed P-80 or Republic F-84 into a pneumatic cone built into various parts of a Boeing KB-29, such as the tail, wing tips, and top of the vertical stabilizer. Also included are a pair of methods of capturing and holding the aircraft as well as All American’s take on the probe-and-drogue method that was ultimately adopted by the US Navy. One of several unconventional aerial refueling concepts is shown below in high resolution:
![Refuel_Example.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fd1kqib0uq4v1gs.cloudfront.net%2Fwp-content%2Fgallery%2Fmain_gallery%2FRefuel_Example.jpg&hash=4d90a3c814ea72239f2237d573f54b87)
A preview of the document's contents:
![Page_Mosaic.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fd1kqib0uq4v1gs.cloudfront.net%2Fwp-content%2Fgallery%2Fmain_gallery%2FPage_Mosaic.jpg&hash=d424614a200fbc58e5f5a063161385b7)
Readers may purchase the report at Gumroad.com/Retromechanix . Thanks for your support—more unique aerospace primary documents to be released in the coming weeks!