V-22 Osprey & C-130 Mid-Air Refueling

This video clip shows a mid-air refuelling mission over New Mexico; a sequence featured in a two-hour documentary special on the 60th anniversary of the C-130 Hercules. I always love filming off the back ramp of the C-130s which is a helluva view. Rough turbulence that day made it very challenging for the V-22s to hook up with the C-130s for fuel. The Ospreys are amazing aircraft to get up close and personal with mid-flight like this, both intimidating and fascinating to watch fly with their giant tiltrotor blades. The newest C-130J model has major improvements over its predecessors including fully integrated defensive systems and new turboprop engines with six-bladed all-composite propellors. The V-22 is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines vertical takeoff and hover qualities of a helicopter with the speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. Its mission is to conduct long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply missions for special operations forces.

Tech Specs

C-130

C-130 Role: Military Transport Aircraft
Ceiling: 26,000 feet with 44,500 lbs payload
Speed: 410 mph at 22,000 ft
Max Payload: 44,000 lbs
Range: 2,100 nm
Payload Range with 40,000 lbs payload: 2,390 nm
Maximum Load:  8 pallets or 97 litters or 24 CDS bundles or 128 combat troops or 92 paratroopers, or a combination of any of these up to the cargo compartment capacity or maximum allowable weight.

V-22 Osprey

Propulsion: Two Rolls-Royce AE1107C, 6,150 shp (4,586 kW) each
Fuselage Length: 57.3 ft
Width with Rotors Turning: 84.6ft
Height: 22.1 ft
Rotor Diameter: 38.1 ft
Vertical Takeoff Max Gross Weight: 52,600 lbs
Max Speed: 270 kts (500 km/h)
Cockpit Crew Seats: 2MV / 3 CV / 2 CMV
Primary Role: Tactical V/STOL transport