Spit IX Drop Tanks and .50's

[Condor]

I have been flying a Spit IX in the late war arena.  I would like to start out with a drop tank and 50% internal fuel and take off a good distance from the action and grab some altitude before getting into the middle of it.   In the hangar, however, I never have the option of carrying a drop tank.  Were Spits not equipped to carry drop tanks or is there a game function/command I’m missing?  

I also read in one of the many game and airplane references I’ve been to that the Spit IX has the option of two .50 cal MGs instead of four .303’s.  I never see the .50 cal option in the hangar.  

Are my expectations wrong on both counts?  If not, how to I get drop tanks and .50’s?

Thanks,

Condor

[fuzeman]

The Spitfire Mk. IX does have the 30gallon 'slipper tank' selection for the drop tank.
You will only be able to load that tank if fuel status at the takeoff base is 125% or undamaged.
Once fuel has been damaged you loose the abaility to load drop tanks.

The Spitfire Mk. IX used to have the option of .50 cals or .303s but with the addition of the Spit VIII and XVI it was changed and now only carries the .303s.

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by Condor
I have been flying a Spit IX in the late war arena.  I would like to start out with a drop tank and 50% internal fuel and take off a good distance from the action and grab some altitude before getting into the middle of it.   In the hangar, however, I never have the option of carrying a drop tank.  Were Spits not equipped to carry drop tanks or is there a game function/command I’m missing?  

I also read in one of the many game and airplane references I’ve been to that the Spit IX has the option of two .50 cal MGs instead of four .303’s.  I never see the .50 cal option in the hangar.  

Are my expectations wrong on both counts?  If not, how to I get drop tanks and .50’s?

Thanks,

Condor

The Spit IX has the Universal wing that some refer to as the C wing, although that is inaccurate.  It had 2 20mm and 4 303s.  It also has a Merlin 61 which is the earlier 1942-43 engine that the Spit IX's were introduced with.

The Spitfire XVIe in AH is the same as a Spitfire LFIXe.  It's referred to as the XVI as it has the American made Packard Merlin 266 in it which is the same as the Rolls Royce Merlin 66 that was used in the Spitfire LFIX.  The Merlin 66 LFIX was the most numerous Spitfire IX version.  And as I said the Spitfire LFXVIe we have is the same thing.  

It also has the mid-1944 E wing that had 2 20mm and 2 .5 MGs as it's armament.

[FLS]

The Spit fuel tanks are so small you don't need to go with 50%. Always load 100% plus the slipper tank if it's available.

[trotter]

no spit or even the seafire has the option for any tank other than the slipper tank. which i really dont mind, because (i think) the slipper tank has less drag than some of the bulkier droptanks in the game.

spit9 used to have the option for two .50 cal instead of four .303s, and i actually just raised this question last night in the LW, because I didn't know HTC changed this. The spit8 is now better in almost every regard, but the 9 is still fun for the challenge
(if you could ever call flying a spit a challenge)

[Condor]

Thanks for the helpful info.  As for the question of whether or not flying a spit is a challenge; being new to this I feel no need for a more challenging plane right now.  Learning to fly in combat in the Spit is enough for starters.  I do plan to fly other planes once I develop some basic skills.

[DamnedRen]

Try the Training Arena (TA). You will learn a lot more, much faster, in there.

[Condor]

I'm crushed Ren.   You've been training me in the TA for several weeks.  I go to the main arena for reinforcement of how little I have learned.  

Seriously, your a great trainer and I appreciate the time you and the other trainers have spent with me.     I plan to come back for more, regularly, for quite a while.  I encourage anyone who is new to take advantage of the TA.  

Condor (Bigprop)

[Stoney74]

I saw a picture of a Spit with what was described as a 90 gallon slipper tank.  Was this an error or just not represented in the game?

[DamnedRen]

Originally posted by Condor
I'm crushed Ren.   You've been training me in the TA for several weeks.  I go to the main arena for reinforcement of how little I have learned.  

Seriously, your a great trainer and I appreciate the time you and the other trainers have spent with me.     I plan to come back for more, regularly, for quite a while.  I encourage anyone who is new to take advantage of the TA.  

Condor (Bigprop)

Whoops! My bad. Use BigProp as a signature and I'll know who you are. LOL. It's hard to keep track of all the call signs AND bb names. Sheesh!!! Sorry.

[Condor]

Ren,

No need to feel sorry.   I just couldn't help myself.    I know how hard it is to keep track of names.   I hope to train with you again soon. I'll send you a PM.  

The training arena is always my first stop when I go on line.  I need it!  
   

Bigprop

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by Stoney74
I saw a picture of a Spit with what was described as a 90 gallon slipper tank.  Was this an error or just not represented in the game?

Spits had a 30, 45 and 90 gallon slipper tank as well as a 50 gallon' torpedo' tank.  There was also a 170 gallon ferry tank.

They tried a fixed tank on one wing on the Spit II at one point as well.  

The 30 was by far the most common with the others used much less.  I think it made sense to model the 30 gallon and leave the others out.

Kinda like not modelling 75, 108 paper and 110 gallon tanks for the 51, or some of the different tanks used on the Jug including the conformal tank used early on to try and extend the  range in the ETO, or the flat 108 gallon, or even the use of 38 wing tanks on the Jug.

[Stoney74]

Well, on the U.S. planes, I don't think there's that big a difference within the game for say the 150 gal vs. 165 gal wing tanks on a jug.  But, the Spits would grow some legs with the extra 60 gals, IMHO...