A Buccaneer rendezvoused with a tanker under radar control to test equipment that engineers had reconfigured overnight. A dry connection would have been enough for pilot practice, but this flight needed to demonstrate that fuel could actually pass between the aircraft. The receiver approached the basket behind the tanker while amber lights indicated that it was clear to connect. Pushing the hose back into the pod triggered fuel flow, and green lights confirmed the transfer. A small quantity of fuel passed successfully before the aircraft disconnected. The test checked engineering work and operating technique together before a mission that depended on reliable refuelling.
Notable Point · 47:41-50:20
Testing a Buccaneer's refuelling equipment with a live fuel transfer
A wet refuelling trial checked that a newly reconfigured Buccaneer tanker could deliver fuel, beyond merely allowing a practice connection.