Getting the speeds of tankers and other orbiting aircraft like AWACS correct in the mission editor can be difficult because the airspeed setting in the DCS Mission Editor is set for either ground speed, or True Airspeed (I've seen it listed both ways) as opposed to indicated air speed (KIAS), which is obviously more useful for us in the air. For this I'm assuming True Airspeed (TAS) There's a relatively simple math equation to get this input correctly. It is:
TAS = (KIAS x 0.018 x altitude in thousands of feet) + KIAS
So for instance, say you want the tanker at 20,000 feet with an indicated speed of 275 knots it would be: TAS = (275 x 0.018 x 20) + 275; solved TAS = 374, so that's what you put in the speed box for the tanker in the mission editor and then also making sure it's in correctly in the orbit advanced waypoint criteria. This formula will allow you to put any aircraft at any particular indicated airspeed and altitude you want, within the performance capabilities of the aircraft of course.
The following is some real world info about the two main big wing tankers we use in DCS.
KC-135 MPRS-
Standard orbit speed: 275 KIAS or .78 mach, which ever is lower
MPRS refueling altitude band: 5,000-35,000 feet
MPRS refueling speed band: 220-300 KIAS
A/A TACAN is DME only, no bearing info (correctly modeled in DCS in the Y band)
In a standard 4-hour refueling sortie, KC-135 can offload on average up to 135,000 lbs of fuel
KC-130-
Standard orbit speed: 240 KIAS
Refueling height band: 500 feet up to service ceiling (approx. 28,000 feet)
Refueling speed band: 120-250 KIAS
A/A TACAN is capable of both DME and bearing info (currently only modeled with the X band in DCS AFAIK)
In a standard 4-hour refueling sortie, KC-130 can offload on average up to 28,000 lbs of fuel
Source:
https://www.japcc.org/aar
Getting the speeds of tankers and other orbiting aircraft like AWACS correct in the mission editor can be difficult because the airspeed setting in the DCS Mission Editor is set for either ground speed, or True Airspeed (I've seen it listed both ways) as opposed to indicated air speed (KIAS), which is obviously more useful for us in the air. For this I'm assuming True Airspeed (TAS) There's a relatively simple math equation to get this input correctly. It is:
TAS = (KIAS x 0.018 x altitude in thousands of feet) + KIAS
So for instance, say you want the tanker at 20,000 feet with an indicated speed of 275 knots it would be: TAS = (275 x 0.018 x 20) + 275; solved TAS = 374, so that's what you put in the speed box for the tanker in the mission editor and then also making sure it's in correctly in the orbit advanced waypoint criteria. This formula will allow you to put any aircraft at any particular indicated airspeed and altitude you want, within the performance capabilities of the aircraft of course.
The following is some real world info about the two main big wing tankers we use in DCS.
KC-135 MPRS-
Standard orbit speed: 275 KIAS or .78 mach, which ever is lower
MPRS refueling altitude band: 5,000-35,000 feet
MPRS refueling speed band: 220-300 KIAS
A/A TACAN is DME only, no bearing info (correctly modeled in DCS in the Y band)
In a standard 4-hour refueling sortie, KC-135 can offload on average up to 135,000 lbs of fuel
KC-130-
Standard orbit speed: 240 KIAS
Refueling height band: 500 feet up to service ceiling (approx. 28,000 feet)
Refueling speed band: 120-250 KIAS
A/A TACAN is capable of both DME and bearing info (currently only modeled with the X band in DCS AFAIK)
In a standard 4-hour refueling sortie, KC-130 can offload on average up to 28,000 lbs of fuel
Source: [url]https://www.japcc.org/aar[/url]