STABILIZING UNIT FOR IN-FLIGHT REFUELING Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: stabilizing deceleration units; stabilization of trailed hoses running approximately horizontally from tanker aircraft. SUBSTANCE: proposed stabilizing unit has many levers and deceleration parachute. Levers are distributed over circumference concentrically relative to unit and mounted for turn in radial direction relative to this axis. Levers are folded together with deceleration parachute within cylindrical volume and are developed similarly to parachute during towing of unit due to their outside turn. Each pair of levers is connected with each other by means of grid. EFFECT: enhanced reliability. 9 cl, 4 dwg