This has been the first unmanned refueling in history | Video

For the first time in aviation history, the US MQ-25 Stingray drone has refueled a military aircraft mid-flight, Boeing reported.

During a test flight, the unmanned device supplied a US Air Force F / A-18 Super Hornet fighter through an extendable hose, something Boeing called a “historic event.”

During the initial part of the maneuver, the F / A-18 pilot approached about six meters away to ensure the stability of the aircraft. Both aircraft flew at an altitude and with an operationally relevant speed. 

• Brief Anger Hampers Blood Vessel Function Leading to Increased Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke – New Study
• New Blood Test Pinpoints Future Stroke Risk – Study Identifies Inflammatory Molecules as Key Biomarker
• Enceladus: A Potential Haven for Extraterrestrial Life in its Hidden Ocean Depths
• New Experiment: Dark Matter Is Not As ‘DARK’ As All We Think
• Scientists in Fear of This New Predator From Red Sea Eating Native Species in Mediterranean

Once the military evaluated the condition of the drone, he connected his fighter to the hose to receive the fuel.

“This team of professionals was integral in the successful flight,” says Rear Admiral Brian Corey, who oversees the Executive Program Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons.

He adds that the US Navy plans to continue collaborating with Boeing in this area.

• American deck-based tanker drone made its first flight
• A hungry stingray crushes a fish against the glass of an aquarium
• Yandex will begin a full test of unmanned vehicles in Israel
• Boeing investigates new possible failures in its 737 Max
• Boeing or China? Who loses the most if the PRC excludes the US giant from the civil aviation market?

The first prototype of the Boeing MQ-25 Stingray, manufactured by Boeing for the US Navy, made its maiden flight in September 2019.

The drone is equipped with a 4,500 kilopond Rolls-Royce AE 3007N engine.

Image Credit: Getty