On external wing tanks. Is entire volume filled with fuel?

[DmitriKozlowsky]

On external wing tanks. Is entire volume filled with fuel?

They are huge. With those full udders hanging off the wings, M2000C would have maneuverability of a pregnant cow or an F-4C ca. 1967.

Why are they shaped to look like ah... Female specific sex toys? Erotic application of NASA's Area Rule for aerodynamic body?

[Mars Exulte]

Maneuverability with full drop tanks is kind of irrelevant. You aren't dogfighting with full drop tanks, because you're only going to equip them if you're flying a long ways or loitering longterm. In neither case are you going to be pulling Gs with them full of fuel.

 

They're shaped exactly like drop tanks are usually shaped (at least since the 40/50s when they were more bulbous), for low drag. I don't know why a DT wouldn't be full by volume, just like propane tanks or any other portable container. If they weren't it would be for fuel pumps, or possibly some honeycombing to prevent sloshing.

Edited January 23, 2020 by zhukov032186

[DmitriKozlowsky]

I was thinking, that full of JP8/F-34 JET A fuel, those tanks would be above gross max for T/O.

Since they appear stay attached, with CATIII stores FBW G limiter of about 6G, I got to thinking that perhaps not the entire volume is used for fuel. That externa; of wing tank is an aerodynamic fairing adhering to Area Rule, and inside the fairing is the tank itself.

[jojo]

On external wing tanks. Is entire volume filled with fuel?

They are huge. With those full udders hanging off the wings, M2000C would have maneuverability of a pregnant cow or an F-4C ca. 1967.

Why are they shaped to look like ah... Female specific sex toys? Erotic application of NASA's Area Rule for aerodynamic body?

 

It isn’t a F-4C.

 

Mirage 2000 has “relaxed stability”.

The more you load it with bombs and tanks the more it is unstable in pitch. To the point where the pilote has to restrict AoA lower than 20° to avoid unrecoverable pitch up.

 

You still have 6G and 150°/s roll rate in CHARGES mode Vs 9G and 270°/s in AA.

Su-27SK Max roll rate is 180°/s.

 

For the drag, Mirage 2000 is very slick. Even loaded with wing tanks, targeting bombs and GBU, it can still push to 600kt/ M0.95 on MIL power.

 

IRL you can do partial filling of the tanks.

 

This kind of display is performed with empty wing tanks, but you can see it’s still performing very well.

 

 

 

Look what is planned for F-35 external tanks...

 

Edited January 23, 2020 by jojo