An investigation of the downwash field of aircraft in relation to problems involved in aerial refueling

Abstract

The purpose of solving the problem presented in this thesis is to provide an approximate method of predicting the downwash effects of a tanker airplane upon a receiver airplane when the two aircraft are flying in formation for the accomplishment of aerial refueling. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study represents the first attempt at an analytical solution of the problem which is applicable to the general case or any tanker formatting with any receiver. Due to the great many variables involved, any attempt at constructing a generally applicable method implies that certain simplifying assumptions must be made. The results presented in this thesis are, then, probably most useful for obtaining a pre-flight test estimation of downwash effects.