Fuel Tanks Drain Order

[Slade]

Hello,

I'd like to put together a list of fighters for those that have an advantage in draining fuel from fuel tanks other than the default. For instance, in the Ki-61 it is recommended to drain the wing fuel tanks first for better performance.

Please jump in and add what you have found as far as the plane and fuel tank(s) order to drain for best performance.


Thanks,

Slade  

[dirtdart]

Patiently wainting for a SAPP guy to talk the 38.....

[Soulyss]

Patiently wainting for a SAPP guy to talk the 38.....

Just leave the 38's on auto.  

The only thing to be aware of when it comes to the internal fuel capacity on the 38's is that the G carries less than the J/L models. 

[titanic3]

IIRC, the Fw190D is better when draining the forward fuel tank first then the aft last.

[Krusty]

99.999% of all the "drain this first" suggestions are placebo. Only in a very FEW cases does it make a different.

Draining the wing tanks on the Ki61? Makes little difference vs draining the exact same amount from the fuselage tanks first. The only thing it does is affect roll rate slightly, but the Ki is on the verge of that area where a plane stops being manuverable but can't quite regenerate lost E, so it's halfway between a turn fighter and a E fighter, like a P-40E IMO. Increasing the roll rate slightly won't change that for the same weight.


Planes that do benefit are FW190s, but the auto burn already takes this into account (which you will find in almost all cases, as well).


In short, nice effort, but this is unneeded in just about every case you can come up with.

[Krusty]

IIRC, the Fw190D is better when draining the forward fuel tank first then the aft last.

Absolutely wrong. Aft first, and this is how it drains already on auto.

[titanic3]

Ah well, it was from pure memory, then again, I don't fly 190s much. 

[skorpion]

you always wanna drain the wing fuel first in the p47m/n. next should be the fwd then main. keep at least one tank to get home. (aux)

[Krusty]

Skorp... dude.. the P-47M doesn't have wing tanks.

Seriously?



Also, they aren't even loaded on the P-47N until the others are full. You take 25% or 50% and you get no wing tanks. I think you have to load 75% or maybe the full 100% to have any gas in the wings on a P-47N.

It's not an issue unless you're going across the map and back, and in that case you are heavy no matter what. There's little benefit to draining wings first vs fuselage other than weight reduction. The roll rate doesn't suffer much (it's one of the best rolling wings in the game), so the overall difference of losing 60 gals from the wings vs 60 gals from the main tank is nil.

No benefit, if you see what I mean.

[skorpion]

Skorp... dude.. the P-47M doesn't have wing tanks.

Seriously?



Also, they aren't even loaded on the P-47N until the others are full. You take 25% or 50% and you get no wing tanks. I think you have to load 75% or maybe the full 100% to have any gas in the wings on a P-47N.

It's not an issue unless you're going across the map and back, and in that case you are heavy no matter what. There's little benefit to draining wings first vs fuselage other than weight reduction. The roll rate doesn't suffer much (it's one of the best rolling wings in the game), so the overall difference of losing 60 gals from the wings vs 60 gals from the main tank is nil.

No benefit, if you see what I mean.

what moron doesnt take 100/75% fuel? if you want to return home after you get your fuel tank shot then id suggest doing that.

[The Fugitive]

You must be one of those "run and gun" types of guys. It is very rare I take more than 50% in any plane. Drops, always.

[Slade]

what moron doesnt take 100/75% fuel?

Me. 

I take 50% or less sometimes.  I cut WAY back on throttle (saving fuel) and end up over my target lighter and more nimble.  Results vary per plane.  Not just a placebo effect BTW.

[skorpion]

Me. 

I take 50% or less sometimes.  I cut WAY back on throttle (saving fuel) and end up over my target lighter and more nimble.  Results vary per plane.  Not just a placebo effect BTW.

so, you play with the throttle so you get where your going. ok, that seems good at first, but then you get over your target, go full throttle then get your fuel shot. you start tinkering  with the throttle but your still leaking fuel at a decent rate. your half way home and realize you ran out of gas. just because you have less fuel doesnt mean your going to do better.

[Oldman731]

99.999% of all the "drain this first" suggestions are placebo.

Agreed.

Historically it was supposed to make a significant difference on the P51.  Otherwise I don't believe I've ever come across fuel tank selection as an issue.

I know that for years I've read people saying that the 202 receives a huge benefit from draining wing tanks first.  I've never noticed any difference, and I've flown it quite a bit.

- oldman

[Karnak]

100%  In a P-47N?  What, are you flying across the entire map?!?  That is something like 3,500lbs of fuel.