Ski01 Posted May 11, 2024 Posted May 11, 2024 Do we know the typical fuel load for a short range combat mission? Given the Flight Manual comments on reversibility, do we know if the fuselage tank was only used/filled then the mission range actually dictated this? For example, given the short ranges to the Normandy battlefield, wing tanks would be tactically suitable. I'm not so much after individual opinions, more after if anyone knows what was actual AAC practice for what they termed 'standard fuel load'.
vgilsoler Posted May 13, 2024 Posted May 13, 2024 As far as I know the fuselage tank needs to be used only when is strictly required to reach the mission range due stability issues, and avoided when possible. I5 12600KF - 32 GB DDR4 - Nvidia RTX 4060 - SSD + NVME Nadie es un completo inutil, por lo menos sirve de mal ejemplo.
Bowie Posted July 17, 2024 Posted July 17, 2024 (edited) Generally set up the P-51D-25 for short range combat missions with 41% fuel load. Or, roughly 60% of wing tank capacity. That's ~ 54 gal./wing tank, and an empty fuselage tank. Good for a 45 minute combat flight: (15 min. climb/15 min. fight/15 min. return) and ~ 15 min. of fuel to spare. At this weight, will out-fly a FW-190, and stay with the Bf-109 (w/ a notch of flaps), and beating it at the end. Bowie Edited July 17, 2024 by Bowie
felixx75 Posted August 1, 2024 Posted August 1, 2024 (edited) On 5/12/2024 at 12:23 AM, Ski01 said: Do we know the typical fuel load for a short range combat mission? Given the Flight Manual comments on reversibility, do we know if the fuselage tank was only used/filled then the mission range actually dictated this? For example, given the short ranges to the Normandy battlefield, wing tanks would be tactically suitable. I'm not so much after individual opinions, more after if anyone knows what was actual AAC practice for what they termed 'standard fuel load'. --> @21:30 Edited August 1, 2024 by felixx75
felixx75 Posted August 1, 2024 Posted August 1, 2024 On 7/17/2024 at 8:43 PM, Bowie said: Generally set up the P-51D-25 for short range combat missions with 41% fuel load. Or, roughly 60% of wing tank capacity. That's ~ 54 gal./wing tank, and an empty fuselage tank. Good for a 45 minute combat flight: (15 min. climb/15 min. fight/15 min. return) and ~ 15 min. of fuel to spare. At this weight, will out-fly a FW-190, and stay with the Bf-109 (w/ a notch of flaps), and beating it at the end. Bowie Due to correct weight distribution, the last 25 gallons should always remain in the fuselage tank. These 25 gallons should only be used in an emergency. Never take off or fly with an empty fuselage tank.
Bowie Posted August 3, 2024 Posted August 3, 2024 (edited) On 8/1/2024 at 5:43 AM, felixx75 said: Due to correct weight distribution, the last 25 gallons should always remain in the fuselage tank. These 25 gallons should only be used in an emergency. Never take off or fly with an empty fuselage tank. Yeah... about that, Generally set mission fights to occur w/in ~ 15 min. of start-up. Please explain how one fuels 41% (60% wing tanks, or ~ 54 gal./ea.), and then, puts 25 gal. in the fuselage tank? Bowie Edited August 3, 2024 by Bowie
razo+r Posted August 3, 2024 Posted August 3, 2024 (edited) On 8/1/2024 at 2:43 PM, felixx75 said: Due to correct weight distribution, the last 25 gallons should always remain in the fuselage tank. These 25 gallons should only be used in an emergency. Never take off or fly with an empty fuselage tank. It is stated that 25 gallons are desirable, not required. So it is okay if you have less than that. 16 minutes ago, Bowie said: Yeah... about that, Generally set mission fights to occur w/in ~ 15 min. of start-up. Please explain how one fuels 41% (60% wing tanks, or ~ 54 gal./ea.), and then, puts 25 gal. in the fuselage tank? Bowie Thats obviously not possible in DCS but at the same time also not required. The 25 gallons are only desired in order to have the CG at the optimum position for landing, they are not necessary to have. Edited August 3, 2024 by razo+r
felixx75 Posted August 6, 2024 Posted August 6, 2024 (edited) On 8/3/2024 at 10:09 PM, razo+r said: It is stated that 25 gallons are desirable, not required. So it is okay if you have less than that. Thats obviously not possible in DCS but at the same time also not required. The 25 gallons are only desired in order to have the CG at the optimum position for landing, they are not necessary to have. DCS is just a game, so it's not really necessary to stick to real procedures. But it's always funny to see that realism is always taken very seriously in DCS, but only when you want it to be. Where it simply doesn't meet your own expectations, realism is suddenly no longer so important. As I said, it's just a game, but the question was about a suitable fuel level and the fact is that the last 25 gallons usually remained in the tank and were only used in an emergency. It is not only about a good weight distribution during landing, but also during flight (aerobatics are prohibited with 40+ gallons in the fuselage tank -> center of gravity too far back - so you should also avoid dogfights with this payload). This is also the reason why you use the fuselage tank first as soon as you are in the air. With less than 25 gallons, the CG moves too far forward. Whether you want to or can implement this in the game is another question (realism and all that) Edited August 6, 2024 by felixx75
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