Landing with Stores

[SharpeXB]

I’m curious what the real practice for this is as both options seem crazy. Landing your jet with unexpended bombs on it or jettisoning $$$ smart munitions.

[Foka]

AFAIK GBU-24 in not certified for carrier landing, other ordinance is, but remember about weight limit of 34 000 lbs for carrier landing.

[pokeraccio]

19 minutes ago, Foka said:

weight limit of 34 000 lbs for carrier landing.

 

I do not have reference about specific landing limitations with stores but: 

 

Landings Limitations:

Field

39.000 Lbs Flared

33.000 Lbs Practice/Touch'n'Go/Barricade 

 

Carrier 

33.000 Lbs Unrestricted

34.000 Lbs with some restrictions

 

[Bremspropeller]

Just landing with ammo isn't the issue there, unless it's hung ordnance.

Not busting the max trap weight and the coresponding required minimum fuel load around the boat are more pressing.

Also, you might consider asymmetric loadout conditions.

 

 

[SharpeXB]

Yeah I suppose at some point in history weapons became expensive enough that it was worth bringing them back. 

[Yoda967]

On 7/31/2021 at 4:26 PM, SharpeXB said:

Yeah I suppose at some point in history weapons became expensive enough that it was worth bringing them back. 

It's not just the dollar cost.

 

1. The carrier only has so much room in its magazines...yes, hundreds of weapons, but during a four-day surge, the carrier is likely to put up 700-800 strike sorties, with 1,300-1,400 weapons under their wings that won't come back to the boat. At that point, the air wing starts to run out of weapons. Every sortie that comes back with its bombs is another target that can be struck.

 

2. Every sortie that comes back with its bombs is a jet that doesn't have to be reloaded, meaning less work for the deck crews.

[Nealius]

This is why you see so many images of Charlie Hornets carrying very little ordnance in low-intensity conflicts where release isn't guaranteed; Southern Watch, late OIF/OEF, etc.

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

I also remember reading something about center fuel tank having a certain maximum of load for carrier landings

[mongo52]

1 hour ago, Ala12Rv-Tundra said:

I also remember reading something about center fuel tank having a certain maximum of load for carrier landings

If memory serves me correct any drop tank has to either be full or empty so it doesn't slosh around on trapping.

[Bunny Clark]

The preference is generally to dump fuel to get below max landing weight, rather than jettisoning weapons. Planners are pretty careful about sending up aircraft with a weapons load they will not be able to bring back to the boat if not used. 

[Pieterras]

If there is no guarantee weapons will be released, then you won’t launch with ordnance that won’t allow you to come back with it, whilst still meeting the CAG’s determined minimum tankstate + X passes. This amount of passes might be lowered if required,  (but it is not up to the pilot to make this decision). 

If you’re scheduled a pre-planned mission obviously things are different. 
The F/A-18C was very limited in its “bringback” capabilities, if you google “bringback” you will find lots of articles about it. However just dumpling ordnance or empty tanks is and was not a thing. (Although it seems in DCS). 
 

hope this somewhat answered your question.