Having to find a suitable place in which to land and refuel your F-16 fighter jet can take a lot of time . But this video released by Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage , Alaska shows the ingenious way to top up the tank without losing any air miles . Captured on camera is the moment the F-16 skilfully flies up behind a tanker aircraft and steadies itself in the skies over snowy Alaska . The F-16 fighter jet skilfully flies up behind the main aircraft and steadies itself while getting into position . A large nozzle extends from the back of the tanker plane and then manoeuvres towards the fighter jet . The jet moves into position , allowing the nozzle to enter a small triangular hole at the top of the F-16 . The two planes maintain their speed as the snowy Alaskan landscape flashes by below them , and the fuel transfers from one to the other . Receiving enough fuel to carry on its flight , the fighter jet pulls away from the larger plane and flies off . The large nozzle hanging from the bottom of the plane manoeuvres towards the fighter jet and it latches on . The process is then repeated with another plane moments later . Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson are the home of RED FLAG-Alaska , who execute tactical air combat employment exercises . The exercises are designed to help pilots gain more experience by having them deal with the stresses war fighters go through while flying , but in controlled conditions . The two planes maintain their speed while flying over Alaska as fuel is transferred from one to the other . After receiving enough fuel to carry on its flight , the fighter jet pulls away from the larger aircraft . The crews are subjected to a number of conceivable combat threats , and up to 70 jet fighters can be operating in the same airspace at one time . On average , however , more than 1,000 US Air Force members and up to 60 aircraft deploy to Eielson , and an additional 500 people and 40 aircraft deploy to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson for each event . The exercises also provide an operations training environment for participants such as unit-level intelligence experts , maintenance crews , and command and control elements . Refuelling in the air is an example of a tactical exercise pilots are required to demonstrate .
Astonishing video shows an F-16 jet steadying itself behind a tanker plane . The pilot of the F-16, which is based at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, was able to stabilize his aircraft after it hit the refueling tanker, according to the U.S. military.