[2.9.5.55300] 600 Gallon Centerline tank currently erroneously labeled as "Sargent Fletcher Fuel Tank"

[DSplayer]

EDIT: I got tripped up on what the Royal Jet tanks looked like externally so ignore this report outside of the naming for the current tank being incorrect.

 

Currently the centerline 600 gallon external fuel tank is called "Sargent Fletcher Fuel Tank 600 gallons". However, the fuel tank that we have in-game is actually a "Royal Jet" 600 gallon fuel tank.

The other centerline fuel tank (other than the F-15-style 600 Gallon High Performance tank) would be the McDonnell 600 Gallon Centerline Tank which has a distinctly different mounting (and shape) compared to both the Royal Jet and High Performance tanks as the McDonnell tank incorporates a fairing when attached to the jet while the High Performance and Royal Jet tanks don't use such fairing and instead have a rear attachment point (with the Royal Jet tanks having a slightly different shape and slightly taller rear attachment point fin thing compared to the High Performance tanks).

McDonnell 600 gallon tank image from here: https://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2013/06/things-under-wings-f4h-f-4-phantom.html

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F-4F with Royal Jet tank

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USAF F-4G with Royal Jet tank

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High Performance Tank:

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Edited June 24, 2024 by DSplayer

[Zabuzard]

The current ingame model is indeed the HP tank. Both tanks are planned. We will sort it out, thanks.

[Kirk66]

Two points: What is in the ingame model is the High Performance 600 gal CL tank - basically an F-15 tank - that was introduced to the F-4 fleet in the mid-late 80s due to the notoriously low g limits of the horrible throw away Royal Jet 600 CL tank.

The Royal Jet and McDonnell 600 gal CL tanks look identical but are NOT the same. The McDonnell CL had much higher g limits while the Royal Jet was a disposable tank the AF had to purchase after dropping all their McDonnell tanks over Laos and NVN. 

Easiest way to tell them apart on a non-Navy F-4 (I don't think the Navy ever used the HP CL) is that the nose on the newer HP tanks tilts up, while the older tanks tilt down in the front. The older tanks are also WAY cooler looking instead of the goofy Eagle tank (although it does work well).

You are correct that all the fuel tanks in the Rearm and Refuel menu are incorrectly labelled "Sergeant Fletcher 600 (or 370) gallon tanks" - obviously only the wing tanks should be labelled as such. 

In the photos you linked above, the first is a McDonnell 600 cl tank under what looks to be a Navy jet (narrow main tires). The Royal Jet looks similar from a distance - same overall shape and mounting - but I think it had an external seam on the outside. But not visible unless doing a preflight on it.

The rest of the photos are of the High Performance CL tanks ("F-15 tanks").

Cheers,

Vulture

[Kirk66]

Here is a photo of a Royal Jet 600 CL tank, note the bolted seam along left lower side of the center of the tank. This is not present in the McDonnell tanks as far as I know.

Edited June 24, 2024 by Kirk66

[DSplayer]

5 hours ago, Kirk66 said:

Here is a photo of a Royal Jet 600 CL tank, note the bolted seam along left lower side of the center of the tank. This is not present in the McDonnell tanks as far as I know.

 

Yeah the entire differences between the Royal Jet and McDonnell tanks definitely confused me since the carriage limitations are so different even though it seems like the two externally share a lot of similarities. 

[Kirk66]

Yep, it is a pretty complicated story. The Royal Jet 600s were dangerous - if they didn't feed you HAD to abort you mission and either jett them of fly back at very low G and hope they didn't fail. No way could you do anything tactical with a full one. 

My squadron commander had one fail at high speed and low altitude - it had failed to transfer but he was leading a squadron attack during a Cope Thunder exercise so he pressed on - and when it failed it basically ripped the guts our of his plane and caused an over-G that destroyed it. They both got out but the WSO was pretty badly banged up; he was checking six when he got punched out...not ideal ejection position.

I was in the jet on his wing when it happened. F-4s full of fuel make an impressive fireball when they impact a ridgeline at 500 knots...

Soon after the USAF started to switch to the F-15 tanks.

Vulture