Bog9y Posted February 12, 2023 Posted February 12, 2023 I was wondering, in real life, do A-10s depart with full tanks or a reduced fuel load when heading out to the range or a local sortie? With such a massive fuel load and low fuel flow, surely it would make sense to save weight and improve performance by taking a reduced fuel load?
ASAP Posted February 12, 2023 Posted February 12, 2023 I’m pretty sure it’s generally full fuel every time. Unless your at a base at high altitude and it’s super hot outside and takeoff distance starts to become a factor. the jet is designed to be able to fight with a full tank. The only thing carrying less fuel would buy them is less training time. big exception is the demo team. There’s a video they put out where right after takeoff he says he’s only got like 1800 lbs of fuel total which explains how he can whip the jet around like he does during the demo.
bones1014 Posted February 12, 2023 Posted February 12, 2023 It depends on if they're following some kind of fuel conservation plan. I know tankers don't fly with a full load all the time and that's to save fuel. If it's just a short training flight they'll burn way more fuel than they need to just to get the plane in the air.
jaylw314 Posted February 12, 2023 Posted February 12, 2023 The wing tanks are not self-sealing, so I suspect there is a preference to exhaust them before getting shot at, but I have no idea if this is planned on IRL
ASAP Posted February 13, 2023 Posted February 13, 2023 8 hours ago, bones1014 said: It depends on if they're following some kind of fuel conservation plan. I know tankers don't fly with a full load all the time and that's to save fuel. If it's just a short training flight they'll burn way more fuel than they need to just to get the plane in the air. Big airplanes and fighters work that totally different with regards to fuel planning. A tanker can take off, fly to an area, give gas, and fly for hours on end, come home and land, all without a full tank. They also know what altitude they will be at and can accurately calculate fuel burn rates. Fighters have to take off, drive to a MOA, which are rarely right over the base, and then fight until bingo, which will invovle being in max a lot. If they are going to get worthwhile training they need all the gas they can get. 4 hours ago, jaylw314 said: The wing tanks are not self-sealing, so I suspect there is a preference to exhaust them before getting shot at, but I have no idea if this is planned on IRL I could be wrong, but I thought they have other forms of explosion suppression materials in the wing tanks, so I wouldn't think it would be a big deal. Otherwise they'd have to take off and fly around for quite a while before they could go kill something. That just doesn't sound very "attack pilot" to me.
Snoopy Posted February 13, 2023 Posted February 13, 2023 10 hours ago, Bog9y said: I was wondering, in real life, do A-10s depart with full tanks or a reduced fuel load when heading out to the range or a local sortie? With such a massive fuel load and low fuel flow, surely it would make sense to save weight and improve performance by taking a reduced fuel load? Home station normal ops is full tanks. In hot locations we have summer loads and deployed it’s all depended on the external muns we’re carrying. 4 1 v303d Fighter Group Discord | Virtual 303d Fighter Group Website
jaylw314 Posted February 13, 2023 Posted February 13, 2023 30 minutes ago, ASAP said: Big airplanes and fighters work that totally different with regards to fuel planning. A tanker can take off, fly to an area, give gas, and fly for hours on end, come home and land, all without a full tank. They also know what altitude they will be at and can accurately calculate fuel burn rates. Fighters have to take off, drive to a MOA, which are rarely right over the base, and then fight until bingo, which will invovle being in max a lot. If they are going to get worthwhile training they need all the gas they can get. I could be wrong, but I thought they have other forms of explosion suppression materials in the wing tanks, so I wouldn't think it would be a big deal. Otherwise they'd have to take off and fly around for quite a while before they could go kill something. That just doesn't sound very "attack pilot" to me. AFAIK both fuselage and wing tanks have some kind of explosion suppressant plastic foam or sponge in them. However, only the fuselage tanks are self-sealing bladders, the wing tanks are just a compartment of aluminum wing skin and frame.
Mogster Posted February 19, 2023 Posted February 19, 2023 On 2/12/2023 at 3:33 PM, bones1014 said: It depends on if they're following some kind of fuel conservation plan. I know tankers don't fly with a full load all the time and that's to save fuel. If it's just a short training flight they'll burn way more fuel than they need to just to get the plane in the air. I think M odern tankers like the A330 MRTT can use fuel themselves from their additional tanks giving them massive range if used as a transport. It makes sense they wouldn’t drag that weight around if it’s not needed.
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