New Fuel Bladder Successfully Tested for Airborne Bulk Fuel Delivery System (ABFDS)
A new flexible fuel bladder was developed by CANFLEX USA in collaboration with U.S. Air Force experts and the Defense Innovation Unit as part of the Airborne Bulk Fuel Delivery System (ABFDS), a key capability for rapid fuel delivery to remote and forward-deployed locations. The prototype testing was conducted by the Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) schoolhouse of the 82nd Training Wing at Sheppard Air Force Base.
As part of an aerial fuel delivery system deployable on heavy aircraft, fuel bladders are essential for projecting airpower in austere or contested environments. This new design enhances safety, durability, and efficiency in aerial fuel operations and is part of an ongoing effort to replace decades-old, obsolete equipment.
Technical Sergeant Robert Edmonds, Fuels Advanced Instructor, highlighted the importance of the testing process and equipment modernization, emphasizing the need to remain at the forefront of technology within the Air Force fuels career field.
Thanks to the expertise of the Sheppard AFB POL schoolhouse team, the system has been validated for operational use. Additionally, the 364 TRS will lead the development of the curriculum to train the next generation of POL specialists in implementing this critical upgrade.
Attribution
Julie Svoboda: https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3682441/82nd-trw-pol-puts-fuel-bladder-prototype-to-the-test/
Benjamin Remmert: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/973151/sheppard-pol-tests-new-fuel-bladder?utm_source=chatgpt.com