Add empty external tanks

[dresoccer4]

Quick q: how can I add empty external fuel tanks in the mission editor? I want to practice landings that simulate end-of-mission loadouts.

 

Thanks

[Exorcet]

Add tanks, remove internal fuel. Tank fuel will pump to internal tanks in flight.

 

Alternatively if you can find the lau files for the tanks you might be able to change fuel weight in them, I've never tried.

[TimRobertsen]

If you set any of the EXT TANKS-switches to "Oride", you'll enable fuel-transfer from them while on the ground  Then you can take off with empty tanks

[dresoccer4]

1 hour ago, Exorcet said:

Add tanks, remove internal fuel. Tank fuel will pump to internal tanks in flight.

 

Alternatively if you can find the lau files for the tanks you might be able to change fuel weight in them, I've never tried.

 

huh, I had just assumed there was maybe some sort of advanced command in the ME to add empty external tanks.

 

I could do what you suggested, but I wonder if having 0 internal tanks and full external tanks would change the flight characteristics. not sure how fast those pumps work, especially if i have myself set up in the pattern already

[TimRobertsen]

They drain fast, but maybe not as fast as you might need, unless you can active-pause

[Northstar98]

+1

 

An even better solution is to be able to set the amount of fuel in each tank as desired, and obviously keep the option to just set totals as we have now.

Edited March 9, 2021 by Northstar98

[dorianR666]

On 3/4/2021 at 10:49 PM, dresoccer4 said:

huh, I had just assumed there was maybe some sort of advanced command in the ME to add empty external tanks.

There isnt any command for it. Some planes simply have an empty external tank as another item to be selected in loadout screen. Hornet doesnt.

[thrustvector]

just a question though, would they not drop them on a carrier landing?

[Cytarabine]

1 minute ago, thrustvector said:

just a question though, would they not drop them on a carrier landing?

Why would you drop them? They aren’t in unlimited supply. 
 

In truth you would only drop them if you are in a situation where the extra drag or weight would be detrimental (dogfighting, emergency situations etc). 

[thrustvector]

as weight is a factor for carrier landing, i know theres a recommended weight, so just wondered thats all

[Tholozor]

When empty, the FPU-8 fuel tank weighs approximately 290 pounds. Landing requirements for a carrier trap mainly only care about total gross weight and asymmetric foot-pounds.

Edited March 6, 2021 by Tholozor

[thrustvector]

ah ok thank you

[TimRobertsen]

12 hours ago, thrustvector said:

just a question though, would they not drop them on a carrier landing?

 

The F-4's did that in vietnam (not for carrierlandings though), turns out droptanks makes for great canoes

[Cytarabine]

On the block 3 Rhino’s you certainly wouldn’t want to be dropping the centreline pod without a good reason given it contains the IRST hardware. 

[Svend_Dellepude]

It could be good if external tanks were empty pr default and you had to choose to refuel or leave them empty, or anywhere in between.

[Hoirtel]

On 3/4/2021 at 9:26 PM, TimRobertsen said:

If you set any of the EXT TANKS-switches to "Oride", you'll enable fuel-transfer from them while on the ground  Then you can take off with empty tanks

Good tip!