Why do you need ariel refueling tankers?

Question

Is the idea that some plane will keep flying forever?

Answer 1

For the same reason cars need gas stations.

Answer 2

when they are flying in areas  where there are no military bases or flying over water or in combat areas where they cannot land etc.

Answer 3

So you can refuel in the air?

Answer 4

They are needed to increase both the range and payload of  fighters, bombers and cargo planes. By increasing the payload (be it bombs, ordanance or cargo) on takeoff and then refueling inflight, the range or (loiter time for a fighter) can be extended many times the unrefueled range.

Answer 5

Aircraft are limited by a number of factors, including total weight, fuel capacity, altitude, speed, weather conditions, etc. For certain planes (e.g. long range bombers) the ordnace (weapons) load is too high to allow larger fuel tanks. The refueling planes are built to be nothing but fuel tank. When a bomber takes off with a load of bombs, they have the maximum amount of fuel that the plane is able to carry -  this still isn't enough to do real long range flights. Landing in the middle of the Pacific is not an option, so the refueling plane hooks up and refuels the bomber so it can make it to Korea or wherever its going.

Answer 6

there are many reasons. fighters have short range and would never be able to make it over seas without refueling in the air. fighters rotate often between overseas and the states. Cargo aircraft can takeoff with full cargo and enough fuel to make it to there destination often the desert or Germany and need to be refueled in the air to help deliver precious cargo on time. heavy bombers with limited bases over seas fly for hours to drop there bombs and require refueling to make it back to there staging bases. during the kosovo air war b-2 bombers would launch from Whitman AFB drop bombs in Serbia and return to Whitman a 18+hour flight they would require several air refuelings. during OIF the same bomber would launch drop bombs in Iraqi and land in Guam no easy task. fighters would not be able to stay overhead are ground troops for extended time to provide air support.

Answer 7

Aircraft that require in-flight refuelling are fighters If they are flying from North America to Europe they might require in flight refuelling as suitable landing sights are not available.