Is there a "hot key" to force a plane(s) to refuel?

[SteveF2006]

Also, if I set a group of aircraft to tanker and then send them on a long mission, does the AI know to refuel it's own units?

[Warhorse64]

IIRC, alt-R forces refueling for player-controlled units, but AI-controlled units don't use refuelling at all, even if there's a tanker with them.

[TonyE]

The AI should tank on its own, what it won't do is understand that a tanker increases the range of the mission.
 
If a plane without tanking has 650nm radius, adding a tanker to that plane's group for AI use doesn't mean it will now attack a target 900nm away, the AI still treats it as 650nm radius.  Now if that plane uses a bunch of fuel in a dogfight, that tanker could provide some benefit.

[Warhorse64]

... except that the tanker would likely be the first kill ... [:(]