Aviators, Airmen, why does the Navy use the basket, and the Air Force use the boom? That floating basket looks like a pain in the dick.
The reel system weighs right at 245 pounds. Add in hydraulics, a 92' 3" diameter hose and 50lb basket. All of it weighs considerably less than a boom system.
I would guess the navy reels and hoses are a bit smaller for fixed wing use.
The Navy uses some smaller aircraft to refuel fighters so a boom would never work due to weight of the system. Balance or CG of the tanker and the fact that the Navy is still in the 1940's with some of their technology.
Ejection seats are another throwback.
Martin Baker vs ACES-II.
The initial choice for the MB was zero altitude performance.
A wise choice at the time.
Current production seats will all provide safe ejection and recovery from ground level.
The ACES is much easier to maintain than the MB.
Booms are easier to replace and maintain than hose-drogue systems.
USAF C-130 P and N models have the hose reels.
Their primary use is to air refuel helicopters
KC and EC-135 aircraft can install a drogue for helicopter and Navy requirements.
Fuel tanks:
There are five types and three build characteristics.
1. Integral fuel tanks are built using the sealed structure of the aircraft. Examples are wing tanks and also fusealge tanks on the B-1B.
2. Drop tanks, also called external fuel tanks (not all are jettisonable) are usually installed along the center wing pylon on fighter aircraft and many C-130 models. The B-1B has external provisions for drop tanks. These look like the pontoons on a boat.
3. Fuel Cells are a shape conforming bladder installed within the structure of an aircraft. There are two types and three specific designs within the two types.
a. Self sealing (fully self sealing and partial (bottom only) self sealing).
Used in fighter aircraft and helicopters.
b. Non self sealing.
Used in cargo aircraft wing root areas and body of KC-EC-135 and AWACS etc.
4. Conformal Fuel tanks that conform to the outer nacelle on an F-15 E and the upper wing to fuselage area on F-16.
5. Internal, removeable, fuel tanks.
Two basic types.
For you Vietnam vets they were the bladders in the back of a helicopter.
On a C-130, they were the big assed white or seafoam green things that looked like giant propane tanks nested on either side of the cargo area, directly under the wings.
Students, that is your military aircraft lesson for the day.
There will be a four question test at the end of the week. You must maintain a passing grade or you will be eliminated from this course...