P51 Fuel Load

[HacBau]

I have read posts that suggest taking off with a 50% fuel load and drop tanks using the drops to get to the fight and dropping at engagement.

Is this to avoid having fuel in the "AUX" tank? I have read that there is a tank in the P51 that, when full, severely reduces the plane's flight characteristics because it moves the plane's center of gravity aft. Is this the "AUX" tank? And is this why some suggest beginning a fight with a 50% fuel load?

Thanks for your help. I love this bulletin board. It is very informative and helpful.

Hoc

[Bodhi]

The fuel tank you are thinking of is, the Aux, also known as the fuselage tank that when full severly throws off the Mustangs CG.  It is meant for distance flight is all it was designed for, getting the Mustang to a long away place.  There are records of pilots in WW2 taking off and flying on the aux until all fuel was used in it, then switching to drops.  Hope that helps, as far as AH is concerned, I fly the stang almost predominately with 50%, occasionally with 75% but I burn off the AUX immediately.  And I usually take drops too.  Especially if the fight is a long ways away.

[7SinS]

If your using drop tanks burn the aux tank first then switch back to ext aux. you are 100% correct in saying the aux tank throws off the centre of gravity  

[Tac]

no! Fight with AUX tank full! Its great! You will spin a lot and your enemy will over shoot you and you will kill them!

 

(kidding, do get rid of the aux first!)

[pugg666]

my typical load is 75% and no drop tanks.
this will give you about 30% in the auxilary tank and 100% in the wing tanks
the auxilary tank will be empty in about 3 minutes (enough to get you to about 8-10k from a sea level field) and leave you with about 40 minutes flight time with the wing tanks
for a long range flight i take 75% and drop tanks. drain the aux tank first then switch over to the drop tanks, when you get some action you can drop the tanks and not have to worry about being tail heavy due to the aux tank.

[flakbait]

As one Mudstain driver put it:

"We came in low over our field to do some victory rolls. My wing leader peeled off and did his, then I did mine. Geezus! The whole airplane wanted to flip over on me! I got it back under control and landed after ten minutes or so. When my wing leader asked 'what did you do that for?' so I told him 'when I went to do that roll the dang thing nearly swapped ends on me!'. He snapped his fingers and said 'I forgot to tell you about the fuselage tank'."

The P-51D has a yaw problem anyway, resulting from the added "snot bubble" canopy. The -51B has a large dorsal area behind the pilot which keeps the plane stable. When they slapped the "snot bubble" on the D, they had to cut most of that away. This ended up giving it a lateral instability problem. A fully loaded Aux tank only makes this more pronounced, and it can really screw up your day.


-----------------------
Flakbait [Delta6]
Delta Six's Flight School
Put the P-61B in Aces High
"With all due respect Chaplian, I don't think my maker wants to hear from me right now. I'm gonna go out there and remove one of His creations from this universe.
And when I get back I'm gonna drink a bottle of Scotch like it was Chiggy von
Richthofen's blood and celebrate his death."
Col. McQueen, Space: Above and Beyond
 

[Am0n]

Great info guys.

One problem for me, how does one select which fuel tank is being used?
Would this also be true for a F4?

[Blue Mako]

Originally posted by Am0n:
Great info guys.

One problem for me, how does one select which fuel tank is being used?
Would this also be true for a F4?

Shift F
and
No

[Midnight]

If you want some exact flight data information for the P-51D in Aces High, including all about the fuel loads and flight times for each loadout, go to the 412th FS "Braunco Mustangs" page.
 http://webpages.charter.net/davidlj/P51School.htm

The squad home page can be reached by clicking my sig pic...

-----------------------------
Wing up, Get kills, Be happy!

Major Midnight - CO
   

The 412th is actively seeking P-51 Mustang pilots. E-mail me for more information   davidlj@charter.net

[Rude]

I fly the 51 exclusively and always loadout 100 fuel.

It presents no problems as long as you fly the aircraft according to the appropriate amount of fuel onboard...Boom and Zoom when heavy with fuel...slice and dice when ya get lite.

I enjoy stayin in the air as long as possible each sortie.

Just like life itself, you will no doubt find a diverse range of opinions...try all of them and then make up your own mind

Have Fun!