F6F Fuel Burn

[Thing]

Hello everyone

I was wondering when flying the Hellkat should you burn fuel a certain way (use certain tanks first) or just let the aux burn and then go to the wing tanks.


Thanks

   Thing

[BaldEagl]

I fly the Hellcat a lot and I just let auto fuel management do it's thing.

[F6Fraven]

When fliying the F6 it is a good idea to bring 75% fuel and a DT. I found that drop tanks really don't effect planes as greatly as most people might think. When switching tanks, I like to burn my aux down to 25% than switch to my drop. Once my drop is out I usually have just about enough time to rtb safely.

[DoNKeY]

Whenever I fly the cat, I just let the auto-manager do its thing, as I haven't noticed a difference, and I would rather worry about the enemies then watching how much fuel I have left in whatever tank I would be on at that time.

donkey

[BaldEagl]

When fliying the F6 it is a good idea to bring 75% fuel and a DT. I found that drop tanks really don't effect planes as greatly as most people might think. When switching tanks, I like to burn my aux down to 25% than switch to my drop. Once my drop is out I usually have just about enough time to rtb safely.

So when do you burn the main tanks?

I think you are wrong about the effect of drop tanks.  Fly the F6F with a full load of ord (or drop tanks), then fly it again with a clean airframe.  It's a completely different animal.  You pay a huge penalty in not only weight, but drag.

The F6F clean with 75% fuel is a sweetheart and still has plenty of range.  At 50% fuel in a clean configuration it's a furballing monster.