Fishing for fuel in the air, one aeroplane using a hook, line and sinker to catch a light cord trailing behind the other aeroplane, was demonstrated recently at Hendon aerodrome writes the Aeronautical correspondent of the "Morning Post."
It is a new and remarkably ingenious method for conveying fuel Írom a tanker aeroplane to another aeroplane while both are in flight, and it is among the methods now being considered by Imperial Airways for use on the projected commercial service across the Atlantic.
Developed at the Royal Aircraft Establishment the procedure begins with the aeroplane which is to take in fuel trailing a light cord with a small grapple on the end. The cord is so light that it trials out almost horizontally. The other aeroplane drops a heavier line with an 8-pound stream-lined "sinker" on the end and a grapnel This line, owing to the sinker, hangs more nearly vertically The top aeroplane pilot then "fishes: for the lower aeroplane's cord by flying across, above and behind it Having caught the cord by crossing the two lines, it is drawn in and the 300 feet of 1%-inch hose, through which the petrol is to be pumped, is attached. At the end of the hose is a small drogue for steadying it.
Cord and hose are let out, and then begins a most ingenious method for hauling in the hose. It would be impossible to haul this in by man power for it is heavy and it curves against the relative air stream as the two machines rush along. A motor would add useless weight to the machine to be re-fuelled. So the actual movement of the aeroplanes through the air is used to drag in the hose nozzle.
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