The original CH-3C used during the first aerial refueling connection in 1965. Note the refueling probe extends from the center of the aircraft. The probe was later moved to the right side for better structural mounting and less interference with avionics located in the nose of the aircraft. Photo Courtesy of LtCol Don Eastman, USAF (ret).
copter aerial refueling testing, Don East- man began fixed-wing aerial refueling training in the F-100 and B-47. On the morning of 15 December 1965,
Captain Don Eastman and Sikorsky Air- craft test pilots Dick Wright and Thomas Glynn took off from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC to demonstrate the first in-flight hook-up of a helicopter
and fixed-wing aircraft. Although the test- ing was being conducted by the Air Force, the helicopter was a Sikorsky Aircraft owned CH-3C. Therefore, the Sikorsky pilots were onboard. The probe attached to the H-3 was a dummy probe and the lines on the C-130 tanker were dummy lines with a real nozzle. This was done intentionally so that a hookup could be
made but no fuel would be transferred. The crew flew a morning flight and at- tempted several hook-ups without success. Finally that afternoon, with Captain East- man at the controls of the CH-3C and Ma- rine Corps Captains W.J. Smith and R.R. Mullins at the controls of the KC-130F, Eastman successfully connected to the C- 130 and remained connected for over five
34 March 2013
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