Guy Alcala wrote:
A boom receptacle, OTOH, is theoretically only limited in diameter by the fuel flow
rates that the a/c's internal fuel piping is designed to deal with; since the flow
rate in A/B is quite high, and since none of this is adding weight/drag outside the
airframe, transfer rates can be much higher with little/no weight penalty on the
receiver. The tanker is paying the weight/drag penalty of the boom, but it's a lot
larger and can afford it.

And then you've got three pilots.

One pilot for each aircraft and then somebody in the back of the tanker
to fly the boom.

-HJC