Patent ID: 7475852

Claim:
An illuminating device adapted to illuminate an in-flight refueling operation between a first aircraft and a second aircraft, the illuminating device comprising: a generating device disposed within an interior of the first aircraft and configured to generate an emission such that the emission is adapted to be predominantly in a near infra-red spectrum and such that the emission is further adapted to be eye-safe to an operator of the second aircraft; a refueling operator station disposed within the interior of the first aircraft, wherein the generating device is disposed within the refueling operator station; a directing device configured to direct the emission such that the emission is further adapted to define an adjustable emission envelope containing an in-flight refueling position relative to the first aircraft so as to illuminate the second aircraft as the second aircraft enters the in-flight refueling position; and a transmitting device configured to transmit the emission from the generating device to the directing device such that the directing device is located remotely from the generating device with the generating device configured to be accessed by an operator of the first aircraft while the first aircraft is in flight and the directing device is operably engaged with and disposed proximate to an outer surface of the first aircraft.