St Elmos Fire during Aerial Refueling of E-4 by KC-135

A USAF KC-135 Aircraft is preparing to refuel a USAF E-4. The same aircraft used as Air Force One. The weather that we were going through causes the differential static equalization between the two aircraft. Once the boom touches the receptacle of the E-4 the charges are equalized and the static stops. This is commonly known as St Elmos Fire.

Category:

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Tags:

• USAF
• space
• science
• aircraft
• KC-135
• KC135
• E4
• E-4
• Air
• Force
• One
• aerial
• refueling

[pleyades1711]

thumbs up if you were looking to see something like this instead the song!!!

[BoomerSteve1]

Ahhh . . . That is not St. Elmo's fire. It's merely static discharge between the nozzle and the E-4.

I wish I had a video of a night refueling with a B-52H I did from my home base where the entire nose of the receiver was sheathed in a purple glow.

[rhino2960]

@86Timewarp i figured as much

[86Timewarp]

@rhino2960 One of many yes. At all times, there is atleast one fueled and standing by, ether at it's home base in Ofutt, or around the world. It's called the "Doomsday Plane," because it's only used in the event of a global/national communications crisis or war.

[ItsAmadWorld2]

Interesting it didn't cause an explosion.

[rhino2960]

thats a "doomsday" plane isnt it?

[justforever96]

I think that St Elmos fire is something different; it makes whatever it's in or on appear to glow brightly. They call it "fire" because it used to make sailing ships masts light up, appearing to be on fire. It is also blue or purple. This is just static arcing between two aircraft (although it is certainly interesting!).

[wbball15]

@jfcoggins Correct

[jfcoggins]

@scorpiooooooh Not true.

When Pres. Bush flew on that S-3 for the carrier landing that plane was designated "Navy 1". The helicopters that ferry the President are referred to as "Marine 1".  An Army bird would become "Army 1"...It's service specific. In the event of a President traveling on a civilian aircraft I believe it would become "Executive 1" but don't quote me on that last one.

[orospakr]

Not to be a pedant, but that is just straight-up arcing, not St. Elmo's fire. Still very cool, though, if awkward for the aircrews trying to do a refueling. ;)

[scorpiooooooh]

@radtech21 I think Kennedy already did that =0

[radtech21]

@scorpiooooooh What about a hot air balloon? Then we could have a "Hot Air Force One."