{"product_id":"9781445666044-raf-air-to-air-refuelling","title":"RAF Air-to-Air Refuelling","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Pictorial History\u003cbr\u003eA photographic look at the history and development of the difficult and delicate process of in-flight refuelling.\u003cbr\u003eOnce man had mastered the ability to fly, there came the desire to fly faster, higher and further with increased payloads. Some of the earliest experiments with air-to-air refuelling occurred in the 1920s and as long-distance record  attempts progressed, Alan Cobham was in the thick of it. Cobham would later revolutionise air-to-air refuelling, initially with the ‘Grapple-line looped-hose’ system, along with the formation of Flight Refuelling Limited (FRL). By the 1930s, the emphasis was on transatlantic flights – especially by providing a faster postal service between Europe and the USA. With the advent of the Cold War, the need for air-to-air refuelling became a clear military requirement. When Boeing announced the Model 367-80, the USAF saw a unique opportunity and placed large orders for the KC-135A version. Meanwhile, the RAF also saw the necessity for tanker aircraft to support its new V-bomber force. Initially, surplus Valiant bombers were converted and later Vulcan and Victor aircraft too. Today, air-to-air refuelling is an essential part of modern warfare, providing both strategic and tactical tanking capabilities.This book is profusely illustrated with images from a variety of sources including the Air Historical Branch and the author’s own extensive collection – many of which have never previously been published – and all are supported with a concise but informative text.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":30362338852961,"sku":"9781445666044","price":14.02,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_36842794.jpg?v=1774287037","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781445666044-raf-air-to-air-refuelling","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}