Patent ID: 8370002
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: B64D

Abstract:
1. A refueling aircraft comprising: a fuselage; a plurality of flight surfaces associated with the fuselage; an engine system configured to move the refueling aircraft during flight; a refueling system configured to perform a refueling mission during the flight; one or more other systems, wherein each of the one or more other systems is configured to perform one or more missions in addition to the refueling mission, wherein the one or more missions comprise a group of tasks, and wherein the group of tasks comprises: a multiple refueling unit control and management task, an automated refueling unit operation and supervision task, a formation flight management task, and a darkness and inclement weather refueling task; and one or more control stations located in the fuselage of the refueling aircraft, wherein each of the one or more control stations is configured to control the refueling system and a group of systems, wherein the group of systems consists of: a cargo handling system, a special operations system, an air traffic management system, a passenger transportation system, a medical evacuation system, a vision system, a weather system, a sensor system, an actuator system, and an electrical connection system, and wherein each of the one or more control stations is connected to a mission configuration system, further wherein the mission configuration system is configured to configure each of the one or more control stations.