The crews of the Tu-142MZ long-range anti-submarine aircraft of the Pacific Fleet have successfully completed training flights with aerial refueling at an altitude of 4-5 thousand meters.
The crews of the Tu-142MZ long-range anti-submarine aircraft of the Pacific Fleet naval aviation conducted training flights to maintain proficiency in refueling in the air from the Il-78M tanker aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Refueling aircraft in the air increases their range and allows them to perform tasks at greater distances from bases. The training was conducted day and night from the Pacific Fleet's Kamenny Ruchey airfield.
The aircraft made five sorties and completed more than 15 dockings with the tanker aircraft, using the hose-cone refueling system. The exercises demonstrated the high efficiency of the Tu-142MZ in modern conditions.
Flights with aerial refueling are one of the most difficult types of flight training. The Tu-142 pilot, with a take-off weight of over 180 tons, must approach the aerial tanker at a distance of 10-15 meters at an altitude of about 5 thousand meters and at a speed of 500-550 km/h and make contact with the tanker's cone sensor, after which he must hold his place in formation until the fuel is completely refueled.
Earlier www1.ru reported that Russian Tu-142M3 aircraft found and destroyed enemy submarines in the Pacific Ocean.
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