what fuel tank to drain??? fighters

[alpini13]

hi,not sure about manualy draining fuel tanks,any info would help. looking for info on fw-190 a-8,d-9,ta-152,f4u-d and -4,p-51d, p-47 m and n. any help would be appreciated, thanks

[B-17]

you can DO that [manually drain fuel tanks] in AH?! :rant

[Chalenge]

The default selections are the best way to go (of everything I have tried) so if you just load up a plane with 50% fuel and see which tanks have fuel (shift-f) then you will have your answer by comparing which tanks have fuel when you load 100%. Make sense?

[Blooz]

Just to expand on the topic a bit, as you cycle through the tanks with SHIFT-F, the white lettered tank is the "automatic" tank. The other tanks are lettered yellow to indicate a manual setting for that particular tank.

As an example, if you select a wing tank and it's lettering is yellow, when that tank is empty you'll need to manually switch to another fuel tank.

When you select the white lettered tank (default), all the fuel tanks on the plane will be used in a predetermined order automatically.

As for the planes, the FW190 series is best draining the aft tank first (that's the default on auto).

The F4U-4 guzzles fuel so fast you don't have to worry. You'll be empty before you can get the gear up...lol.

[SmokinLoon]

Here are a few of the aircraft I am aware of that benefit from burning specific fuel tanks first:

Spitfires (1, 5, 8, 9, 14): When the time comes to burn off either the bottom or top tank, manually burn the top tank first.  It helps with roll capability.  This is historically accurate, they would burn the top tank first as they climbed for altitude.  The Spit16 already has "sooper"-roll capability, so no need to worry about that model, just fly it and land the easy-mode kills.  

The F4U's: If the F4U model has a LEFT wing tank, burn that first.  It is historically accurate it as well.  It helps avoid dipping the left wing too soon in a stall out.

The P47's: Burn the main tank first.  That is the fuel tank that will reach out and grab bullets so it leaks.  

The P40E: Burn the main tank first, it helps with the directional "wobble".

The 190's, P51B/D, : standard.  Let the plane do its thing.

As far as taking DT's and 50% fuel... don't do that.  Don't wear girl underwear when you play this sim-game unless you are female.     If you are anyone really thinks that flying in that manner get them more "killz" they are sadly mistaken.  If they need that 100th wee bit extra of chance to squeeze through a situation then they should have not been there to begin with.   

[branch37]

Only the F4U-1 and -1A have wing tanks, the 1D/C/4 only have1

[Chalenge]

Here are a few of the aircraft I am aware of that benefit from burning specific fuel tanks first:

Spitfires (1, 5, 8, 9, 14): When the time comes to burn off either the bottom or top tank, manually burn the top tank first.  It helps with roll capability.  This is historically accurate, they would burn the top tank first as they climbed for altitude.  The Spit16 already has "sooper"-roll capability, so no need to worry about that model, just fly it and land the easy-mode kills.  

The F4U's: If the F4U model has a LEFT wing tank, burn that first.  It is historically accurate it as well.  It helps avoid dipping the left wing too soon in a stall out.

The P47's: Burn the main tank first.  That is the fuel tank that will reach out and grab bullets so it leaks.  

The P40E: Burn the main tank first, it helps with the directional "wobble".

The 190's, P51B/D, : standard.  Let the plane do its thing.

As far as taking DT's and 50% fuel... don't do that.  Don't wear girl underwear when you play this sim-game unless you are female.     If you are anyone really thinks that flying in that manner get them more "killz" they are sadly mistaken.  If they need that 100th wee bit extra of chance to squeeze through a situation then they should have not been there to begin with.   

You might think so... but that is wrong. What you refer to as "100th wee bit extra" can actually be a huge difference. To a purist its insulting but this is tame compared to a lot of the gamey things that happen.

In a P-51 of either flavor you should ALWAYS burn the AUX tank first even if you carry drop tanks. The plane is unstable until the rear tank has burned down some (I usually burn it down to at least 50%) and this is accurate by real world standards. Pilots from WWII were instructed to do the same and there is no shame in it.

Knowing details like this is important but even more important is being able to discern a bandits fuel state through observation of his turn quality. The faster you can learn to do that the more engagements you will survive.

[SmokinLoon]

You might think so... but that is wrong. What you refer to as "100th wee bit extra" can actually be a huge difference. To a purist its insulting but this is tame compared to a lot of the gamey things that happen.

In a P-51 of either flavor you should ALWAYS burn the AUX tank first even if you carry drop tanks. The plane is unstable until the rear tank has burned down some (I usually burn it down to at least 50%) and this is accurate by real world standards. Pilots from WWII were instructed to do the same and there is no shame in it.

Knowing details like this is important but even more important is being able to discern a bandits fuel state through observation of his turn quality. The faster you can learn to do that the more engagements you will survive.

You're right.  The %50 and DT thing isn't as bad as some of the more dire gamey things, but it still lends to the arcade gamers play style.  Oh well, not this cat.  When I take up a P51x, I only take DT's when doing the long range escort duty otherwise it is always %75 to %100.  As far as burning the AUF tank first, I'll gladly try it out.  I had not heard of that one before.  I did a quick search and didnt find any info on the 'net regarding P51 pilots burning specific tanks first.  There are videos on YT narrating the F4U and Spitfire references I made.

You game the game as you like, but I wont ever blame my losing a dogfite because of me not doing the %50 and DT thingy.     

[321BAR]

You might think so... but that is wrong. What you refer to as "100th wee bit extra" can actually be a huge difference. To a purist its insulting but this is tame compared to a lot of the gamey things that happen.

In a P-51 of either flavor you should ALWAYS burn the AUX tank first even if you carry drop tanks. The plane is unstable until the rear tank has burned down some (I usually burn it down to at least 50%) and this is accurate by real world standards. Pilots from WWII were instructed to do the same and there is no shame in it.

Knowing details like this is important but even more important is being able to discern a bandits fuel state through observation of his turn quality. The faster you can learn to do that the more engagements you will survive.

agreed fully. Aux tank first

[B-17]

sort of unrelated question... but does having, say, all fuel you ever had on one wing, and then nothing in the other wing, does that throw off the balance of the aircraft?

[MachFly]

If your flying a spitfire always use the following order:

1. Drop
2. Wings (keep it an automatic it will keep switching left and right)
3. Top
4. Bottom (if your in a Spit14 you want to RTB as soon as you start using your bottom tank, it's very small)

The reason why the Bottom fuel tank is the last is because it is armored and self sealing, other are not, if you get a fuel left there is a 99% chance it will not be your bottom tank. The others are self explanatory.

[MachFly]

Spitfires (1, 5, 8, 9, 14): When the time comes to burn off either the bottom or top tank, manually burn the top tank first.  It helps with roll capability.  This is historically accurate, they would burn the top tank first as they climbed for altitude.  The Spit16 already has "sooper"-roll capability, so no need to worry about that model, just fly it and land the easy-mode kills.  

How exactly does a top fuel tank help with roll rate? It's in the center.

[MachFly]

sort of unrelated question... but does having, say, all fuel you ever had on one wing, and then nothing in the other wing, does that throw off the balance of the aircraft?

Absolutely. Most aircraft are not even allowed to fly like that.

[B-17]

wow. well, you could, with it having a big difference particularly in a bomber with massive fuel tanks. if one got shot up, you would have fuel on one side, but not the other. am i right, or do i have no idea what im talking about?

[MachFly]

wow. well, you could, with it having a big difference particularly in a bomber with massive fuel tanks. if one got shot up, you would have fuel on one side, but not the other. am i right, or do i have no idea what im talking about?

Bombers have multiple fuel tanks in each wing so this would not happen, also I don't know about WWII but modern large aircraft can transfer fuel from one tank to another to keep it balanced. If you have more fuel in one wing, your airplane will be one wing heavy and want to roll to that side all the time.