Tanker Tales - When tanking isn't an option

[Catmando]

The guy doing the pushing must have had some massive brass balls. Think about it. What would happen if the windscreen or canopy bow fails? Guess where that hook is going. Not pretty.

Not really, I don't think. No different than gingerly entering the refueling basket. As long as the hook didn't hit the windscreen very hard on approach, all you had to do was push up the throttles after hook-to-windscreen contact. Besides, we were a pretty tight group, and most all would take great risks to keep their buddies out of the Hanoi Hilton... or worse.

We discussed it, and figured - as it had been successfully done twice - that we would attempt it in a heartbeat, if ever warranted.

 

[HeyJoe]

Not really, I don't think. No different than gingerly entering the refueling basket. As long as the hook didn't hit the windscreen very hard on approach, all you had to do was push up the throttles after hook-to-windscreen contact.

It's all about closure. Now if either one hit a bird, that would be bad due to...closure.