Aerial Refueling Simulation

The 3D military vehicle model library that is delivered with MetaVR products contains a set of models that include sufficient geometric detail such that the challenging operation of aerial refueling can be simulated using MetaVR technology.

Included in the model library is a model of Northrop Grumman's KC-45 Advanced Multi-role Tanker Cargo aircraft. Northrop Grumman, the winning bidder for the US airforce tanker program, uses MetaVR's Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG) as its 3D visualization system, and uses the KC-45 model in its Aerial Refueling Operator (ARO) simulator.

	Real-time VRSG screen capture of a KC-45 aircraft refueling an F-15 over the Ontario, California, area of MetaVR's North America terrain. Click Zoom to see a high-resolution version.

   
Close-up views of a simulated KC-45 and F-15 refueling operation showing the KC-45 model's telescoping refueling boom. Click here to see MetaVR's real-time move clip of this scenario.

A primary current US Air Force refueling aircraft is the KC-135. The MetaVR 3D model of this aircraft has an articulated flyable and telescoping refueling boom with a modeled rear-window operator station.

Simulation of a KC-135 aircraft refueling an A-10 during daytime conditions. Click on the image to see how the navigational and refueling bay lights are modeled to support night refueling operations.

   
Close-up views of the KC-135 articulated refueling boom: On the left is the actual aircraft from the perspective of the pilot in the plane being refueled. On the right side is a similar perspective of the same refueling with the view set back to show additional detail. Click an image to view a high-resolution version of the image.

   
Real and simulated close-up views of the KC-135 and A-10 refueling operation viewed from the perspective of the rear boom operator.

The refueling port on the aircraft that is to receive fuel is modeled to the dimensions of the real aircraft and includes lights embedded in the refueling bay. The lights inside the refueling port are used as a guide for the boom operator. The refueling boom itself is modeled in detail to include the nozzle at the end of the probe. A high-fidelity collision detection model will be required on the simulator host side to model the refueling probe and port convergence accurately.

Detail of the KC-135 probe inserted into the A-10 refueling bay. Note that the refueling bay lights are not visible at this angle. Click the image to see the same picture in wireframe mode, which shows the underlying geometric detail and light models. Notice that in the wireframe image, the light points inside the bay are visible.

   
An MC-130 aircraft refueling a Sea Stallion and a Pave Hawk. Click an image to view a high-resolution version of the image.