noted Empty external tanks as loadout option

[Diesel_Thunder]

Would like to request empty external tanks as a loadout option. The Tomcat has these as an option in the loadout menu, and makes for a bit better practice when doing aerial refueling.

[Dawgboy]

1 hour ago, Diesel_Thunder said:

Would like to request empty external tanks as a loadout option. The Tomcat has these as an option in the loadout menu, and makes for a bit better practice when doing aerial refueling.

 

I haven't tried it, but can't you just back off the fuel slider bar to just the internal fuel load?

[Diesel_Thunder]

4 hours ago, Dawgboy said:

 

I haven't tried it, but can't you just back off the fuel slider bar to just the internal fuel load?

That slider only affects the internal tanks. It does not change the quantity in the bags, whether it’s on 4/6 or centerline. Anytime you put on externals, it comes full of gas. 

[Deano87]

True. But I’f you load 2 bags with only a few % of internal fuel the bags will get emptied pretty quickly into the internal tanks.

[Tholozor]

As a stop-gap measure, you can open the AR door to depressurize the external tanks and fuel will flow into them while refueling.

[Diesel_Thunder]

4 hours ago, Deano87 said:

True. But I’f you load 2 bags with only a few % of internal fuel the bags will get emptied pretty quickly into the internal tanks.

I get that, and that is how it works normally. The point is having empty externals in the first place. 
 

2 hours ago, Tholozor said:

As a stop-gap measure, you can open the AR door to depressurize the external tanks and fuel will flow into them while refueling.

Yes, though fuel can’t flow into a full tank. Being able to start with them empty keeps you from having to deal with 5K lbs of gas (bags on 4/6) that you may not have wanted to deal with. I have a few missions that I set up where I can practice aerial refueling in my fleet of aircraft. I didn’t see the point of empties on the Tomcat at first until I started learning to refuel that bird. It gives more time on the hose and also makes you have to compensate for an aircraft that is gaining a lot of weight at the same time.

[Northstar98]

As I said in another thread, it would be great to have the option to adjust the fuel quantities in each tank if desired, while retaining the totals.

[MPalmer]

I too would like this option. Workarounds are just that...temporary. It is not supposed to be the Norm!

[_SteelFalcon_]

23 hours ago, Northstar98 said:

As I said in another thread, it would be great to have the option to adjust the fuel quantities in each tank if desired, while retaining the totals.

and independently of the weapons load... i dont like how currently if you adjust fuel, it reloads all pylons too...

[jaguara5]

Would like to have the option to select empty external fuel tanks in the ME / weapons menu. 

Several modules have already this option, should be easy for ED to add it to the viper to. 

Useful for various of reasons.  

Edited April 5, 2023 by jaguara5

[VarZat]

Good idea!

[Minhal]

Very useful to set up air starts for landing/overhead practice with a realistic loadout/drag/weight.