A probe is the receiving end of a probe-and-drogue aerial refueling system. Mounted on the nose or fuselage of the receiving aircraft, it is a rigid or retractable pipe that the pilot must manually fly into the trailing basket (drogue) of a tanker. Once seated, valves open to allow fuel to transfer under pressure.
Heard on the job
We had to abort the refueling because the probe tip got damaged when it struck the basket rim.
Also heard as
- refueling probe