BF109 and Drop Tanks

[Lusche]

Just to put thing back into proportion:

109K4 with 75% = 7354lbs ~21mins flight time left at 5k
109K4 with 50% = 7196lbs ~14 mins flight time left at 5k

That's 2% less total weight at the expense of about 7 mins flight time. Small gain for huge loss.

[Anaxogoras]

You guys have to be kidding . I never carry 100%. With a lot of the planes 25% is all you need to fight around your own base- 50% to get you to another base and back.

I use drop tanks fairly often in the Nikki. I normally load 50% with the nikki due to its small tank (or high fuel burn...don't know which it is). If I'm heading to another field and there's been little to no resistance, I'll go 75% which seems to work fine if I don't get interrupted on the way to the enemy field.

I don't like getting jumped with 75% fuel, though. If there's cons intercepting me on the way to the base, I'll use a drop tank and carry 50% of fuel and dump the drop tank if I run into trouble on the way to the target.

At least you guys have answered one question for me: I've run into a number of opponents that seem to have an endless supply of fuel in their planes as they seem to hang over my field forever. I was wondering how they did that as I couldn't imagine anyone crazy enough to take 100% fuel with them. I guess there are some that crazy.

That strategy is appropriate for the N1k, but terrible for the 109.  You have to use the various aircraft available to us in different ways to be effective.

[fudgums]

I think there is an illusion that the %25 fuel offers a HUGE advantage over %75-%100 fuel in most fighters.  I'd be willing to bet that in most fighters it doesnt make as much of a difference as most of these %25 fuel w/ DT guys suggest.  Besides, that is one of the biggest "gaming the game" there is. 

I have yet to look up the stats, and I dont even know if there are any other than on the P47N, but if one needs to rely on %25 fuel in otherwise quite capable aircraft to make or break their survival then perhaps they are doing many other things wrong.  I hate being forced down due to a low fuel gauge.

I now have every single one of my fighters at %100 fuel.         

When I fly my G14. It feels SOOOOOO much better with 50%-25%. Your very sluggish with 75% or 100%.

It may be just me but eh

[xtyger]

I think there is an illusion that the %25 fuel offers a HUGE advantage over %75-%100 fuel in most fighters. 

I suppose that could be. I remember a year or two after I first started the game. I was flying a p51b. After four sorties, or so, I went to the hangar for some reason and noticed I was carrying two bombs the whole time. I just upped the plane without paying attention and really didn't notice the difference.

As far as always carrying 100%, I wonder what the real pilots did it ww2?

[BaldEagl]

That's 2% less total weight at the expense of about 7 mins flight time. Small gain for huge loss.

Just to be clear that's a 2% drop in wieght for a 33% decrease in flight time going from 75% to 50% fuel.

While the reduced fuel might make you slighly more nimble the decrease in flight time would severely impact your stats:

Lets say you are averaging 3 K/D and 2 K/S at 100% fuel load and decide to decrease fuel to 50%.  If the numbers above translated directly (which is doubtful) you'r K/D would go up to 3.1 (4% gain) while your K/S would decrease to 1.0 (50% loss).  I can guarantee that you would move down in the pilot rankings.

I want enough fuel onboard to land multi-kill sorties.  Even at 100% internal I can't tell you how often I have to rtb for fuel when I'd rather stay out fighting and I've never felt disadvantaged with the extra fuel.

I won't drop the sipper on the Spits until it's dry.  Even in a fight.  In the F6F if I get into a fight before I'm able to drop ord I'll drop the bombs and fight with the rockets still in the rails.  Once you're used to it it's really not a hinderence.  It's no different than any other non-similar aircraft match-ups.  The guy with superior knowlede of ACM's is going to win regardless of how his plane is loaded.