Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Bryan T. GuthrieStaff Sgts. James Smith and Guy Hinton, 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Raptor Aircraft Maintenance Unit dedicated crew chiefs, and Senior Airman Johnny Cruz, 57th AMXS Raptor AMU assistant DCC, prepared their gear on the flightline at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Nov. 7, 2018. They performed a hot-pit refueling where an aircraft is refueled while still running to get the fighter jet back to the mission faster.
Airmen from the 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron and Raptor Aircraft Maintenance Unit performed a hot-pit refueling at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 7, 2018.
Hot-pit refueling is when an aircraft is refueled while keeping the aircraft running.
This refueling is important because it expedites the process. When there is no in-air refueling option available, landing the aircraft and refueling it while it is still running is the second best option to get that aircraft back to the fight.
The ability to generate more sorties in a shorter amount of time increases a squadron’s combat capability and Air Force more lethality.
Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Bryan T. GuthrieSenior Airman Johnny Cruz, 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Raptor Aircraft Maintenance Unit assistant dedicated crew chief, looks over the fuel line on Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Nov. 7, 2018. Refueling times can be reduced significantly when the aircraft keeps their engines on.
Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Bryan T. GuthrieAirman 1st Class Joseph Main, 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution operator, holds a fuel hose on Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Nov. 7, 2018. This was Main’s first hot-pit refueling after arriving at Nellis around a year ago.
Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Bryan T. GuthrieSenior Airman Johnny Cruz, 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Raptor Aircraft Maintenance Unit assistant dedicated crew chief, watches as a jet gets refueled at Nellis Air Force Base, Nov. 7, 2018. Hot-pit refueling has to be done carefully because the jet is still running while simultaneously being refueled.
Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Bryan T. GuthrieAirman 1st Class Joseph Main, 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution operator, rolls up wiring underneath this refueling tanker on Neliis Air Force Base, Nov. 7, 2018. Hot-pit refueling is required as annual training for 99th LRS members.
Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Bryan T. GuthrieStaff Sgt. Guy Hinton, F-22 Raptor fighter jet dedicated crew chief assigned to the 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, speaks to the pilot of a F-22 Raptor fighter jet on Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Nov. 5, 2018. The refueling was performed on the 3rd bombing pad due to the dangers of performing a hot-pit refueling.
