Quick question to HD or Squeeze... I was wondering if you know why the Brits fly with the refueling probe extended? I see a plethora of video on YouTube with their jets in this configuration (or maybe it's just old footage from previous models).
Their FA2 Sea Harriers, like the old AV-8C (a derivitive of the AV-8A....don't try to figure that out) had fixed refueling probes. Kind of like the A-6/EA-6.
The GR7/9's as well as the USMC AV-8B have retractable (and removable for that matter) probes. We only extend them to tank, or often times on the ground while taking hot gas. This ensures (in theory) that the tanks are depressurized and prevents fuel spills.
That should always be the case with weight on wheels, but many fuel pits and squadrons still want to do it that way. I think it's stupid and not mechanically supported by fact, but it doesn't hurt anything, so why not.
The Brits in KAF take it a step further by parking the jets with the probe out for the same reason. They take cold fuel that way. Since the engine isn't even running, there's even less logic behind it, but as before, it doesn't hurt anything, so why not.
We did this for awhile on my last tour in Iraq because the East Coast squadron we were hosted by did this.
In answer to your basic question, what you are seeing flying with the probes out is either an FA2 (obsolete, hence an old picture) or a GR7/9 about to tank. That makes sense because that's when many pictures are taken.
They don't fly with their probes out as a matter of course. You're restricted to 300 kts and won't have pressurized tanks (unless the probe switch is forward in the "press" position. That's only used when the probe fails to retract and you need the gas in your tanks to get home.
