Abstract: A system for effecting automatic identifying of a receiving aircraft receiving fuel from a fuel delivery apparatus in a delivering aircraft during an airborne fueling operation includes: (a) a first unit coupled with the receiving aircraft; (b) a second unit coupled with the delivering aircraft; and (c) a processing unit coupled with at least one of the first unit and the second unit. The first and second units cooperate to effect communicative coupling for conveying identifying information between the receiving aircraft and the delivering aircraft. The processing unit cooperates with at least one of the first unit and the second unit for employing the identifying information to effect the identifying.

Abstract: A system for effecting automatic identifying of a receiving aircraft receiving fuel from a fuel delivery apparatus in a delivering aircraft during an airborne fueling operation includes: (a) a first unit coupled with the receiving aircraft; (b) a second unit coupled with the delivering aircraft; and (c) a processing unit coupled with at least one of the first unit and the second unit. The first and second units cooperate to effect communicative coupling for conveying identifying information between the receiving aircraft and the delivering aircraft. The processing unit cooperates with at least one of the first unit and the second unit for employing the identifying information to effect the identifying.

Abstract: A system for effecting automatic identifying of a receiving aircraft receiving fuel from a fuel delivery apparatus in a delivering aircraft during an airborne fueling operation includes: (a) a first unit coupled with the receiving aircraft; (b) a second unit coupled with the delivering aircraft; and (c) a processing unit coupled with at least one of the first unit and the second unit. The first and second units cooperate to effect communicative coupling for conveying identifying information between the receiving aircraft and the delivering aircraft. The processing unit cooperates with at least one of the first unit and the second unit for employing the identifying information to effect the identifying.

Abstract: Light from a plurality of light emitting diodes is transmitted through optical cables (12) to a lens system. The lenses (56, 58) expand and collimate the light and project it in a sheet (16) across the supersonic inlet of an aircraft power plant perpendicular to incoming airflow. A normal shock bends a portion of the sheet of light (16). A linear array of a multiplicity of optical fiber ends collects discrete samples of light. The samples are processed and compared to a predetermined profile to determine the shock location.