I have a few questions about mid-flight refueling.
- The refueling drogue (page 247, TechManual, sixth printing) is explicitly allowed on VTOLs. While VTOLs aren't allowed on the low-altitude or high-altitude maps, fighters are allowed on the ground map: could a sufficiently low-flying VSTOL-equipped or aerospace fighter be refueled by a VTOL if the altitude of the former and the elevation of the latter line up?
- Rules for refueling in an atmospheric hex are provided on page 33 of the fourth printing of Strategic Operations: Advanced Aerospace Rules. It requires an entire space turn to start refueling, and seems intended for the high-altitude map. Does that same time requirement still apply when both units are operating on the ground?
That rule also incorporates a surprising amount of randomness. Other fluid pumps operate at a consistent rate, and the fluff for the drogue suggests that rate would be 1 ton of fuel per ground turn. - Can a VTOL mount External Fuel Tanks using the rules for VTOL bombing found on page 106 of the sixth printing of Tactical Operations: Advanced Rules?
- Can a vehicle move fuel from a liquid cargo bay to its own internal, extended, or external tanks? What about the opposite direction? Can a fluid suction system move fuel directly into those tanks? Could an ICE-powered vehicle with a sprayer fire petroleum from its tanks?
Note that it is already possible to move fuel from the tank of one unit to the liquid cargo bay of another using a fluid suction system, and vice versa even without one.
