1. Take off from Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan then head South West at 25,000 feet/Mach 0.9, then meet up with the first Tanker at Mach 0.7, 20 minutes away.

Once done, climb/accelerate to 71,000 feet/Mach 3.0 then cruise climb at 200 feet/minute continuing South West past Taiwan, North of the Philippine Islands and out over the South China Sea.

Skirting the East Coast of China, and after passing Hainan Island, make a 35 degree right hand turn onto a Northbound heading for the Gulf of Tonkin...

2. Continuing North, accelerate to Mach 3.17 preparing for a 'front door' entry into North Vietnam. Follow a heading of 284 degrees whilst overflying Haiphong, Hanoi.

Exit North Vietnam into Laos, then descend/decelerate on the way down South into Thailand for a second air-to-air refueling near Korat Air Base...

3. Once topped up with fuel - turn 180 degrees to the North then climb/accelerate.

Head East over the DMZ (demilitarised zone between North & South Vietnam) before crossing the Coast to head back to Kadena AFB...

(Optional - If the Weather is terrible ie. 'fogged in' (as it was on this flight), meet up with another Tanker for approximately 25,000 Ibs of fuel and divert to Ching Chuan Kang Airport, Taiwan)

Tips:

*Most take off's were with 40,000 Ibs of fuel (1/2 a tank).

*Brake release to 78,000 feet/Mach 3.0 took less than 14 minutes.

*Air to air refueling took about 15 minutes...

*A typical descend/deceleration from 78,000 feet at Mach 3.0 down to 25,000 feet/Mach 0.9 took about 9 minutes.

The distance covered was 165NM. The Tanker would be 40NM ahead.