Flying boom mast for multi-purpose aerial refueling aircraft

1. A cargo aircraft configurable for aerial refueling operations comprising:

a fuselage having an interior cargo space and an aft opening providing access to the interior cargo space;

a forward cargo ramp, and

an aft cargo door opposingly positioned relative to the forward cargo ramp,

wherein

the forward cargo ramp and the aft cargo door are moveable between closed and opened conditions so as to close and open, respectively, the aft opening of the interior cargo space, and wherein

the forward cargo ramp and the aft cargo door are hinged to the fuselage at the forward and aft ends thereof, respectively, to allow the forward cargo ramp and the aft cargo door to be pivotally moveable in opposite directions relative to one another between the closed and opened conditions thereof such that (i) the forward cargo ramp and aft cargo door are respectively in raised and lowered positions when in the closed condition with terminal ends of the forward cargo ramp and the aft cargo door in opposition to one another to thereby close the aft opening of the interior cargo space within the fuselage, and (ii) the forward cargo ramp and aft cargo door are respectively in lowered and raised positions such that the terminal ends of the forward cargo ramp and aft cargo door are spaced apart from one another to thereby allow access to the interior cargo space within the fuselage;

a flying boom mast system having a flying boom mast operably associated with the aft cargo door so as to be moveable with the aft cargo door between the lowered and raised positions thereof when the forward cargo ramp and the aft cargo door are moved between the closed and opened conditions, respectively, wherein

the flying boom mast includes a proximal end which is journally attached to the aft cargo door so that a distal end of the flying boom mast is moveable between a stowed condition wherein the flying boom mast is positionally adjacent the aft cargo door and a deployed condition wherein the flying boom mast positionally extends downwardly away from the aft cargo door; and

a fuel supply line connecting the flying boom mast with an on-board fuel supply of the aircraft so as to allow aerial refueling of a receiver aircraft when the flying boom mast is in the deployed condition thereof.

2. The cargo aircraft according to claim 1 , further comprising a vision system operatively installed in the forward cargo ramp so as to allow an operator within the aircraft to visually control the flying boom mast during aerial refueling.

3. The cargo aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein the flying boom mast system comprises a winch assembly and a flexible tether cable connected to the flying boom mast, wherein operation of the winch assembly causes the flexible tether cable to move the flying boom mast between the stowed and deployed conditions thereof.

4. The cargo aircraft according to claim 1 , further comprising a control rack positioned within the interior cargo space of the fuselage to allow operational control of the flying boom mast during aerial refueling.

5. The cargo aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein the cargo door comprises a connection boss, and wherein the flying boom mast is journally connected to the connection boss.

6. The cargo aircraft according to claim 5 , wherein the cargo ramp includes a vision system to allow an operator within the aircraft to visually control the flying boom mast during aerial refueling.

7. The cargo aircraft according to claim 5 , wherein the flying boom mast system comprises a winch assembly and a flexible tether cable connected to the flying boom mast, wherein operation of the winch assembly causes the flexible tether cable to move the flying boom mast between the stowed and deployed conditions thereof.

8. A method to provide aerial refueling capability to a cargo aircraft having a fuselage which includes a forward cargo ramp and an aft cargo door oppositely hinged relative to one another at an aft portion of the fuselage so as to be pivotally moveable in opposite directions between opened and closed positions to respectively open and close a cargo space within the fuselage, wherein the method comprises:

(a) operably providing a flying boom mast system by journally attaching a proximal end of a flying boom mast to the aft cargo ramp to allow the flying boom mast to be moveable between a stowed condition wherein the flying boom mast is positionally adjacent the aft cargo door and a deployed condition wherein the flying boom mast positionally extends downwardly away from the aft cargo door; and

(b) fluid-interconnecting the flying boom mast and an on-board fuel supply of the aircraft with a fuel line so as to allow aerial refueling of a receiver aircraft when the flying boom mast is in the deployed condition thereof.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein step (a) is practiced by journally attaching the flying boom mast to a connection boss associated with the aft cargo door.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein step (a) comprises interconnecting a flexible tether cable between flying boom mast and a winch assembly to allow movement of the flying boom mast between the stowed and deployed conditions thereof.

11. The method according to claim 8 , which further comprises providing the forward cargo ramp with a vision system to allow an operator within the aircraft to visually control the flying boom mast during aerial refueling.