How many feet must receivers push the drogue to initiate fuel flow?

To initiate fuel flow during an aerial refueling operation, receivers need to push the drogue forward by a specific distance. In this context, the correct distance for pushing the drogue is 5 feet. This action creates sufficient engagement between the drogue and the receiver's fuel probe, allowing for a proper connection to establish fuel transfer. Understanding this precise distance is critical to ensuring a smooth and effective refueling operation, which is paramount for maintaining mission readiness in aerial operations.

The other distances mentioned do not align with the operational guidelines for fuel flow initiation. Each of those distances exceeds the requirement, which could lead to complications and an inefficient engagement process during refueling.