초록 ▼

An aircraft refueling system for use with a supplying aircraft is provided. The refueling system includes at least two strips of material coupled to a lower portion of the supplying aircraft. The at least two strips are separated by a distance and comprise a material that facilitates the at least tw

An aircraft refueling system for use with a supplying aircraft is provided. The refueling system includes at least two strips of material coupled to a lower portion of the supplying aircraft. The at least two strips are separated by a distance and comprise a material that facilitates the at least two strips becoming progressively visible to a pilot of a receiving aircraft as the receiving aircraft approaches the supplying aircraft.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An aircraft refueling system for use with a supplying aircraft, said refueling system comprising: at least two strips of material coupled to a lower portion of the supplying aircraft, said at least two strips are separated by a distance and comprise a material that facilitates said at least two s

1. An aircraft refueling system for use with a supplying aircraft, said refueling system comprising: at least two strips of material coupled to a lower portion of the supplying aircraft, said at least two strips are separated by a distance and comprise a material that facilitates said at least two strips becoming progressively visible to a pilot of a receiving aircraft as the receiving aircraft approaches the supplying aircraft;wherein said at least two strips comprising a first strip and a second strip, wherein only said first strip is visible to the receiving aircraft pilot when the receiving aircraft is in a first position relative to the supplying aircraft, and wherein said first strip and said second strip are visible to the receiving aircraft pilot when the receiving aircraft is in a second position relative to the supplying aircraft. 2. The refueling system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least two strips are formed from self-illuminating material. 3. The refueling system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first strip extends substantially through a center of a hose connector coupled to the lower portion of the supplying aircraft; andsaid second strip is positioned at one of aft of said first strip and forward of said first strip. 4. The refueling system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least two strips extend transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of the supplying aircraft. 5. The refueling system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least two strips are configured to become progressively visible to the pilot as the receiving aircraft approaches the supplying aircraft from below and aft of the supplying aircraft. 6. The refueling system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a rate at which said at least two strips become progressively visible to the pilot is associated with a closure rate of the receiving aircraft relative to the supplying aircraft. 7. The refueling system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least two strips are configured to indicate a proper refueling position of the receiving aircraft when each said at least two strips are visible to the pilot of the receiving aircraft. 8. An aircraft refueling system comprising: a hose extending downward from a lower portion of a supplying aircraft, wherein a free end of said hose is configured to mate with a fuel receptacle extending from a receiving aircraft; anda ranging system coupled to the lower portion of the supplying aircraft, said ranging system comprising self-illuminating material configured to indicate, to a pilot of the receiving aircraft, positioning of the receiving aircraft relative to the supplying aircraft during low-light conditions, wherein only a first portion of said ranging system is visible to the receiving aircraft pilot when the receiving aircraft is a first distance from the supplying aircraft, and wherein said first portion and a second portion of said ranging system are visible to the receiving aircraft pilot when the receiving aircraft is a second distance from the supplying aircraft, the second distance being shorter than the first distance. 9. The aircraft refueling system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the self-illuminating material comprises photo-luminescent material. 10. The aircraft refueling system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the self-illuminating material is configured to be compatible with night vision imaging techniques. 11. The aircraft refueling system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said first portion and said second portion of said ranging system are configured to be progressively visible to the pilot of a receiving aircraft as the receiving aircraft approaches the supplying aircraft. 12. The aircraft refueling system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said ranging system is configured to indicate a proper refueling position of the receiving aircraft based on which portions of said first portion and said second portion of said ranging system are visible to the pilot at a current position of the receiving aircraft. 13. The aircraft refueling system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said first portion comprises a first strip of self-illuminating material coupled to the lower portion of the supplying aircraft and said second portion comprises a second strip of self-illuminating material coupled to the lower portion of the supplying aircraft, wherein said first strip and said second strip are separated by a distance such that said first strip and said second strip become progressively visible to the pilot of the receiving aircraft as the receiving aircraft approaches the supplying aircraft. 14. The aircraft refueling system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said ranging system indicates a proper refueling position of the receiving aircraft when said first portion and said second portion of said ranging system are visible to the pilot at a current position of the receiving aircraft. 15. A method of refueling an aircraft, said method comprising: coupling a ranging system to a lower portion of a supplying aircraft, wherein the ranging system includes at least two strips of material separated by a distance, wherein the at least two strips include a first strip and a second strip, only the first strip being visible to the receiving aircraft pilot when the receiving aircraft is in a first position relative to the supplying aircraft, and wherein the first strip and the second strip are visible to the receiving aircraft pilot when the receiving aircraft is in a second position relative to the supplying aircraft; andpositioning, with the ranging system, the receiving aircraft in a refueling position relative to the supplying aircraft, wherein the at least two strips become progressively visible to a pilot of the receiving aircraft as the receiving aircraft approaches the supplying aircraft. 16. The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein coupling a ranging system comprises extending the at least two strips in transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the supplying aircraft. 17. The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein coupling a ranging system comprises separating the at least two strips by the distance that extends along a longitudinal axis of the supplying aircraft. 18. The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein positioning the receiving aircraft comprises selecting a closure rate of the receiving aircraft relative to the supplying aircraft based on a rate at which the at least two strips become progressively visible to the pilot. 19. The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein positioning the receiving aircraft comprises selecting the refueling position based on a visibility of the at least two strips to the pilot at a current position of the receiving aircraft. 20. The method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising forming the at least two strips from photo-luminescent material.