For the 1st time in history, a commercial tanker aircraft performs aerial refueling with a boom

Metrea, a private US company specializing in services for partners in the national security segment, reported this week that it made history on April 17, 2023, by carrying out the first aerial refueling in history made with a boom by an airplane- commercial tank. This historic achievement by a Matrea Strategic Mobility (MSM) KC-135R occurred during a successful training exercise off the coast of Florida. On the mission, two US Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft were refueled within a 4-hour period, resulting in increased readiness and training for a Navy frontline operational unit. Metrea Strategic Mobility is the only company to own and operate a fleet of KC-135R aircraft. Metrea offers an air-to-air refueling service that safely and professionally integrates into military aviation training and operations. “This is an important milestone in the 100-year history of aerial refueling. A commercial tanker plane has never done this before,” said Jon “Ty” Thomas, head of Metrea’s Air and Space Group. “Teamwork with the US Navy, NAVAIR and the P-8 unit led to this success, which is a testament to the significant value of present commercial tankers to augment the national military tanker fleets. We look forward to making spearhead contacts also with a USAF receiver and a foreign air force receiver. There is more history to be made here,” added Ty. – https://aeroin.net/pela-1a-vez-na-historia-um-aviao-tanque-comercial-faz-um-reabastecimento-aereo-com-lanca/