US Patent 7938369 Method and apparatus for aerial fuel transfer

A method and apparatus for transferring fuel onto or off of an aircraft. A refueling transfer duct is deployed from an aft station of the aircraft being serviced while the aircraft is flying, wherein the transfer apparatus comprises a hose with a controllable drogue attached to its free end. The refueling duct is positioned through control signals sent by a tanker aircraft to the controllable drogue to form a favorably positioned refueling duct capable of a finite final docking maneuver. The positioned refueling duct is connected to the tanker aircraft positioned behind the aircraft to form a connection. The fuel is transferred through the connection to a fuel tank or fuel storage system located within the aircraft.