commanderkai commanderkai:
EyeBrock EyeBrock:
The C17's have an air refuelling capability. It's kinda SOP to top up transports with AAR on tac missions where there are payload issues. Fuel is weight. Take off with diversion fuel and get refueled in flight would be a good way of managing any fuel supply problems. I'm sure some guy in a Blue-Grey suit is working on this right now.
The Brits did the same with the air-transport airbridge during the early days of the re-occupation of the Falklands. A C130 would get refuelled 2 or 3 times en route to Stanley from the Ascensions.
I understand this, but the shortage of fuel for aircraft (to me, anyway) doesn't seem as big of an issue considering (unlike Britain during the Falklands War) there's a good number of allies in the region willing to provide fuel. I bet even neutral powers would be willing, since it's disaster relief and not a war effort. I thought the fuel shortage was more in terms of gasoline and fuel for electrical power generation
Your talking on quite a feat of logistics to set up a fuel link to the airport from a tanker terminal that will need to be constructed.
Basing a few air tankers at a nearby island nation, operate an air tanker service for our C17's in mid air.
Our guys could do this tonight. Logistic support for 3 tankers would probably amount to 250 guys and airfield support equipment.
Much easier fix to the fuel issue for our C17's than a build and rely on a vunerable fuel line from sea. Having the C17's stuck on the deck in Haiti is a piss-poor use of a key aircraft for strat and tac airlift.