Patent ID: 6966525

Claim:
An in-flight refueling system comprising: an in-flight refueling boom adapted to be carried by a first aircraft and comprising an extendable nozzle capable of extending therefrom, the extendable nozzle being adapted to engage a refueling receptacle carried by a second aircraft; an imaging device operably engaged with the in-flight refueling boom and configured to capture an image of the refueling receptacle; an alignment device operably engaged with the in-flight refueling boom and configured to determine and indicate alignment of the in-flight refueling boom with the refueling receptacle carried by the second aircraft by receiving a signal emitted by the second aircraft such that extension of the extendable nozzle will engage the refueling receptacle; said second aircraft comprising a locator device configured to emit said signal; and a controller operably engaged with the in-flight refueling boom and configured to be in communication with the alignment device and the imaging device, the controller further configured to be capable of receiving the image of the refueling receptacle and positioning the in-flight refueling boom in response to the image and stabilizing the in-flight refueling boom such that the in-flight refueling boom is in alignment with the refueling receptacle.