I have some results that should clarify the situation regarding A/A refueling.
I've read many of the previous threads on this topic, paying particular attention to when other people successfully hook up and receive fuel from a tanker. I also spent a few hours in FSX flying both single/multiplayer free flight and multiplayer missions, using a KC135T for FS9[1], KC135T for FSX [2] and a A330 MRTT for FSX [3]. Aircraft loadout was 1 external tank and full fuel set in ACM. TACAN channels were 100X for both the KC135T and MRTT, as set in the ACM. No other refuelling gauges or utilities are installed, I run a fairly basic FSX install. Once airborne, I dumped some fuel to facilitate refuelling later on.
Single player free flight was tested using both FS Recorder[4] and AI Flight Planner[5].
Using FS Recorder to record a KC135T in straight and level flight, then replaying it back as traffic whilst I was in the VRS superbug, I was not able to receive any fuel from the tanker, nor was I able to get the TACAN signal from it either.
Using AI Flight Planner I setup a KC135T to fly from YBBN to YSSY at FL300. With myself in the VRS bug I was able to receive the TACAN from the tanker, used that to intercept it, then proceeded to fill up my tanks from the KC135. I tried the TACAN in both T/R, A/A modes or OFF, but could only receive fuel when set to ON and in A/A mode. Refuelling rate was slow and took between 30-60seconds depending on fuel state.
Multiplayer free flight was tested with a friend flying the KC135T or MRTT.
With a friend in either tanker, in straight and level flight, I set the TACAN to the correct channel and A/A mode, intercepted the tanker and filled up my tanks. No fuel flowed when TACAN was in the T/R mode or OFF. Refuelling rate was slow and took between 30-60seconds depending on fuel state.
Multiplayer mission was tested using the Carrier Quals mission[1].
I hosted a session using this mission, took off from KNTU and selected Tanker in the top left corner of the screen. I also set my TACAN on, 100X and A/A mode but did not receive a signal from the tanker in the mission. Using the compass guidance in the top left of the screen I intercepted the tanker, and successfully filled my tanks rather quickly. TACAN settings did not have an effect on refueling. Refuelling this time took only a few seconds from 50% fuel state. I also flew this mission in the default FSX:Accel hornet and also refuelled from the tanker at the same, fast rate.
From my testing above and the various threads on this subject, I found two main scenarios where tanking worked for people:
1. Using the Carrier Quals MP mission, flying behind the supplied KC135T, refuelling only takes a couple seconds to complete.
2. Using any three of the tankers mentioned in either single player or multiplayer free flight, refuelling takes some time, about 30-60seconds (roughly) depending on fuel state.
Scenario 1 DOES NOT use the aerial refuelling function of the VRS Superhornet. It relies on coding of the mission to create a refuelling box behind the included KC135T. ACM, TACAN, aircraft.cfg[6] settings do not have an effect on the ability to take on fuel in this mission.
Scenario 2 DOES use the Aerial Refuelling function of the VRS Superhornet. You need to have several things setup correctly for this to work:
1. Tanker installed successfully.
2. ACM setting for 'ATC MDL" must be the same as "atc_model=" listed under [General] in the aircraft.cfg file of the respective tanker.
3. Your TACAN must be ON (boxed), set to the matching channel in the ACM, and in the A/A mode for you to receive a signal from the tanker.
4. TCN must be boxed on the HSI.
5. In Multiplayer someone else flying the tanker or appearing to you as a tanker. In Singleplayer you must have an AI flightplan using a tanker installed, ie a Traffic_****.bgl file in \Scenery\World\Scenery folder. (FS Recorder will not work)
6. Extend the in flight refuelling probe.
7. Finally when 'plugging in' to the drogue, you need to approach slowly from behind the drogue and push forward until fuel starts to flow. Once it does flow, stabilise 'in the box' and watch your total fuel increase.
One other important piece of info is the fuel setting in the ACM. You will only receive enough fuel to return you to the total ammount set in the ACM. In order to completely fill your tanks in the air, you must set all tanks to full in the ACM. If you have reduced the fuel state to something less than full, it will not keep filling to full (14492lb internal + 3200lb/external tank). An example of this is if you have EMPTY external tank(s) fitted and FULL internal tanks, then you will only fill the internal tanks and not the external tank(s).
I bring up the FUEL page on the left DDI during tanking, but it is not a requirement to be able to receive fuel. Watch the TOTAL fuel number in the top left of this page. You can also Ctrl + Z twice and watch the fuel percentage too. When either number stops increasing, then you have
I hope this explains the different results people have been getting, and definitively outlines how to refuel using VRS's inbuilt function. I have delibrately not covered the setup of drouge offsets and couple/uncouple settings as they are tanker model (and view) specific, I will leave that for another thread or others to work out.
[1] KC135T for FS9: This came with the Carrier Qual MP mission by OneShot2010 found in this thread
[2] KC135T for FSX: This is the file "kc135t_navy_drogue.zip" from
http://www.flightsim.com
[3] A330 MRTT: This is the file "toma3mrt.zip" also from
http://www.flightsim.com
[4] FS Recorder version 2.0 beta 4 from
http://www.fs-recorder.net/
[5] AI Flight Planner version 1.6.35 from
http://members.shaw.ca/aifp/
[6] aircraft.cfg settings meaning the atc_model= entry under [General] heading
EDIT 1: Added IFR probe to list.
EDIT 2: ACM fuel settings.