Testing the Bottomless Tank

Airmen at JB Langley-Eustis, Va., are testing a modification that allows fuel trucks to pump fuel directly from tanks under the flight line to waiting aircraft—as opposed to filling the aircraft with fuel carried by the fuel trucks. The standard R-11 fuel truck “can issue 6,000 gallons and then you have to come back and fill your truck,” said MSgt. Joseph Eveson, 633rd Logistics Readiness Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of fuels. The same truck, modified with the experimental Hydrant Mobile Refueler kit, is “only limited to [the] capacity of the hydrant system,” which, in the case of Langley-Eustis, is up to 900,000 gallons of fuel, he added. Saving “time and money is what we are really excited about with this new HYMORE, and it’s already proven itself here at Langley,” added SMSgt. Patrick Smith, 633rd LRS fuel superintendent. Fuels airmen are also currently installing the system for testing at Nellis AFB, Nev., and pending certification, it could soon serve bases service-wide. (Langley-Eustis report by TSgt. Randy Redman)