CABLE TO DIRECTOR FROM [DELETED] RE OBJECTIVE FIRST IN-FLIGHT REFUELING OF THE

Created: 7/10/1962

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

oah UZUL 62

.DIRECTOR /

FROM

ACTKDN.OSA NFO ) RU

TORi 0 JUL 62

mmam

OPERATIONAL IMMEDIATE

OPIM

OXCART

ONLY KIEFER, BEERLI, PARANQOSKY. NELSON.

FLIGHTIRBORNE4OURINUTES. OBJECTIVE FIRST IN-FLIGHT REFUELING OF2ANKER. TAKE-OFF SCHEDULED0 BUT RADIO TROUBLE CAUSED DELAY. TAKE-OFF WAS MADE0 LBS IN AB WITH WATER WITH AB CLIABOUT0 FEET. 2 OVERTOOK KC-1S5, TANKER. TRIED APPROACHES FROM ABOVE, BELOW AND TO THE SIDE. FOUND THE PREFERABLE APPROACH TO BE FROM WELL BELOW AND SLIGHTLY TO THE SIDE WITH TANKER OUTLINED AGAINST THE SKY. SIX CONTACTS WERE MADE AS FOLLOWS! FIRST CONTACT WITH NO HOOK-UP| SECOND MADE OKINUTE HOOK-UP BUT DRIFTED OFF SO EAR TO THE SIDE THAT AUTOMATIC AZIMUTH DISCONNECT OCCURRED! THIRDINUTE HOOK-UP! NE MINUTE HOOK-UP; FIFTH AND SIXTH WEREINUTE HOOK-UPS. THERE WAS NO FUEL TRANSFERRED ON ANY HOOK-UPS DUE TO RAPID DISCONNECTS CAUSED

WfCUIlJ rUI DATt: AUG I-

BY POOR COMMUNICATIONS, AZIMUTH, AND INNER-LIMIT DUE TO RIDING TOO FAR FORWARD.

IRST GO THE CONTACTS WERE RELATIVELY SATISFACTORY WITH HOOK-UPS ACCOMPLISHEDF 6. POOR COMMUNICATIONS HAMPERED THE FLIGHT FROM START TO FINISH SO WE LOOK FOR MORE SUCCESSFUL TESTS TOMORROW, WITH FUEL TRANSFER.

THE PILOT, LOU SCHALK, SPOKE OF SOME VISIBILITY PROBLEMS, SOME DISCOMFORT, AND CONSIDERABLE FATIGUE* HE SAID THAT SUN REFLECTIONS OFF HIS FORWARD WINDSHIELDS MADE IT IMPERATIVE TO UTILIZE HIS SIDE PANELS FOR VISION. FOR THIS REASON HE TENDED TO FLY OFF TO ONE SIDE AND CAUSED THE AUTOMATIC AZIMUTH DISCONNECT ON HIS ONLY EXTENDED HOOK-UP. VISION DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE GOOD UNTIL AIRCRAFT IS OUT TO AZIMUTH LIMITS.

I FEEL THAT THE FLIGHTS TOMORROW AND THURSDAY WILL GIVEETTER INSIGHT INTO THE VISION PROBLEM.

ALL HOOK-UPS WERE HADE0 FEET ALT AND AFTERONTACT ALL APPROACHES WERE MADEHICH WAS CONSIDERED MORE DESIRABLE.

THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT0 LBS AT FIRST CONTACT0 LBS BY LAST CONTACT. CQ WAS ATERCENT. THESE ARE THE MOST SEVERE LIMITS AND THE AIRCRAFT HANDLED VERY SATISFACTORILY.

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