[FIXED][1900.23] F/A-18F with AN/ASG-34 IRST never leaves tanker: pod fuel burns off but cannot be refilled
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2026 12:59 pm
Build 1900.23, DB3K_519, Windows 11 Pro. Save attached, minimal scenario without Lua.
Aircraft: F/A-18F Super Hornet Blk II (DBID 5257), loadout 29014 (AGM-179 JAGM, ATFLIR [FLIR], AN/ASG-34 IRST, Short-Range)
The save contains three units: the tanker, the refuelling aircraft with loadout 29014, and a second aircraft with a different loadout that shows the same error.
The IRST pod carries a 1050 kg fuel tank (listed as Tank #1). It is burned first in flight, but a tanker only refills the internal tank (6530 kg). The aircraft can never get back to its reported maximum of 7580 kg, so it stays in "Refuelling" indefinitely and blocks the tanker.
The attached save is already in the stuck state: just run it and the aircraft stays on the tanker.
To reproduce from scratch: place the aircraft and a tanker, both airborne, order the aircraft to refuel, and wait until the internal tank is full.
Result at the end of my test: total 6936 kg, Tank #1 406 kg, internal 6530 kg, status still "Refuelling". The aircraft does not disconnect.
Second aircraft, loadout "AGM-179 JAGM, ATFLIR [FLIR], AN/ASG-34 IRST" with two drop tanks: stuck at 9450 of 10500 kg, Tank #1 (pod) 0 kg, Tanks #2 and #3 1460 kg each, status "Refuelling".
Jettison releases it immediately, but also drops all weapons.
The pod is on 95 loadouts of this aircraft, and a second one I tested shows the same error. In the database it is Type 3001 "Sensor Pod", not "Drop Tank", which may be the cause (unconfirmed).
Is this a known issue, and can the pod's tank be made refillable, or be removed from the reported maximum?
Aircraft: F/A-18F Super Hornet Blk II (DBID 5257), loadout 29014 (AGM-179 JAGM, ATFLIR [FLIR], AN/ASG-34 IRST, Short-Range)
The save contains three units: the tanker, the refuelling aircraft with loadout 29014, and a second aircraft with a different loadout that shows the same error.
The IRST pod carries a 1050 kg fuel tank (listed as Tank #1). It is burned first in flight, but a tanker only refills the internal tank (6530 kg). The aircraft can never get back to its reported maximum of 7580 kg, so it stays in "Refuelling" indefinitely and blocks the tanker.
The attached save is already in the stuck state: just run it and the aircraft stays on the tanker.
To reproduce from scratch: place the aircraft and a tanker, both airborne, order the aircraft to refuel, and wait until the internal tank is full.
Result at the end of my test: total 6936 kg, Tank #1 406 kg, internal 6530 kg, status still "Refuelling". The aircraft does not disconnect.
Second aircraft, loadout "AGM-179 JAGM, ATFLIR [FLIR], AN/ASG-34 IRST" with two drop tanks: stuck at 9450 of 10500 kg, Tank #1 (pod) 0 kg, Tanks #2 and #3 1460 kg each, status "Refuelling".
Jettison releases it immediately, but also drops all weapons.
The pod is on 95 loadouts of this aircraft, and a second one I tested shows the same error. In the database it is Type 3001 "Sensor Pod", not "Drop Tank", which may be the cause (unconfirmed).
Is this a known issue, and can the pod's tank be made refillable, or be removed from the reported maximum?