AF Form 4052: C-5/C-130 Refueling Computation Guide – US Air Force aircrews operating the C-5 Galaxy, C-130 Hercules, and legacy C-141 Starlifter rely on precise fuel planning for safe, efficient air refueling missions. AF Form 4052 (C-141/C-130/C-5 Refueling Computation) serves as the standardized worksheet for these calculations.
What Is AF Form 4052?
AF Form 4052 is an official Air Force Information Management Tool (IMT) used to compute fuel requirements, offloads, and reserves for air refueling operations involving C-5, C-130, and C-141 aircraft. It replaced older forms like (AMC & AETC) MC Form 39 and AFSOC 22. The current version dates to March 1, 1999 (19990301, V2).
This two-page form supports:
- Pre-mission fuel planning.
- In-flight adjustments during multiple air refueling (AR) points.
- Calculations for takeoff fuel, enroute burn, reserves, tanker offloads, and landing fuel.
- Integration with Computer Flight Plans (CFP) or manual computations when automated tools are unavailable.
It appears in USAF manuals such as AFMAN 11-2C-5V3 (C-5 Operations) and AFMAN 11-2HC-130JV3, where crews use it for actual onload computations during operational air refueling.
Why AF Form 4052 Matters for USAF Missions?
Accurate refueling computations ensure:
- Mission Success — Proper fuel loads support long-range strategic airlift, tactical operations, and global reach.
- Safety — Adequate reserves for holding, alternates, and contingencies.
- Efficiency — Optimized tanker offloads reduce unnecessary fuel transfer and aircraft weight.
The form breaks down complex segments: departure to ARCP (Air Refueling Control Point), AR exit to destination, multiple AR legs, climb/descent fuel, temperature deviations, and gross weight changes.
Key Sections of AF Form 4052
The form includes structured blocks for:
Front Side (Primary Planning):
- Takeoff Gross Weight, Enroute to ARCP, Reserves, Recovery, Holding, Descent/App/Landing.
- Total Takeoff Fuel, Ramp Fuel, Stored Fuel calculations.
- AR-specific data: Burnoff to exit, planned/actual transfer, fuel on board at exit.
Reverse Side (Multi-AR and Destination):
- AR Number 1 and 2 details (tanker/receiver comms, headings, offload).
- Exit to Destination: Enroute + Reserve, Climb Fuel, Holding, etc.
- Final Landing Fuel and unidentified extra fuel.
- Aircraft data: Mission number, departure/destination, operating weight, cargo/passenger weight, call signs, frequencies, TACAN, etc.
Crews often pair it with AF Form 664 (Aircraft Fuels Documentation Log) for tracking actual refueling transactions.
How to Use AF Form 4052? (Overview)
- Gather Inputs — Aircraft operating weight, cargo/passenger weight, CFP data, winds, temperatures, ARCP details, tanker offload plans.
- Compute Leg-by-Leg — Calculate fuel burn for each segment, adding reserves (typically per aircraft-specific TO or AFMAN guidance).
- AR Planning — Determine required offload at each AR point to meet planned fuel at exit/destination.
- Verify & Adjust — Compare planned vs. actual; account for gross weight changes and temperature deviations.
- Document — Use alongside flight plans and fuel logs.
Note: Always reference the specific aircraft flight manual (e.g., TO 1C-5M-1-1 for C-5) and current AFMAN 11-2 series for your MDS. Computerized tools are preferred when available, but AF Form 4052 remains essential for manual backup.
Download Official AF Form 4052
Official PDF (Current Version):
Download AF Form 4052 Here
Access more Air Force forms and publications at the official AF e-Publishing site.
Related Resources for USAF Personnel
- AFMAN 11-2C-5V3 — C-5 Operations Procedures (includes refueling guidance).
- AFI 11-253 — Managing Purchases of Aviation Fuel.
- Aircraft-specific manuals (TO 1C-XXX-1 series) and Computer Flight Plan (CFP) tools.
- Fuels documentation: AF Form 664.
Stay Current
Forms and procedures can receive updates. Always check the latest versions on e-Publishing.af.mil before flight. For training or questions, consult your unit Stan/Eval or fuels management office.
This guide helps USAF aircrews, planners, and support personnel master AF Form 4052 for reliable C-5, C-130, and historical C-141 refueling operations. Safe flying!