An in-flight refueling system, bladder device and method are provided for enhancing the stability of an elongate hose extending from a tanker aircraft during an in-flight refueling operation. The various embodiments of the present invention provide a compact, lightweight, and low-profile bladder device that may fill with fuel from a fuel conduit defined in the elongate hose so as to minimize the occurrence of oscillations within the elongate hose by selectively adding additional weight to a portion of the elongate hose. Thus, embodiments of the present invention may minimize the occurrence of oscillations in the elongate hose by stabilizing the elongate hose as it extends from the tanker aircraft during an in-flight refueling operation.