Author Topic: Fuel Tanks / Center of Gravity (Read 285 times)

UnDeth · « **on:** June 12, 2002, 10:20:30 PM »

I've read that it's a must to drain the FW190's main tank as soon as possible. I'm well aware of the real life issues with center of gravity in an aircraft but how is it modeled in AH?

Which planes benifit from draining various tanks? Has anyone done any testing with this?

I know the P51 was a dog prior to it's main tank being drained.

I'm very curious about the Me110G2 as well, if anyone has any info on fuel tank configuration, I'd be very interested.

Thanks,

UnDeth

fdiron · « **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2002, 02:39:20 AM »

P51 was unstable when it had its auxillary fuel tank (behind the pilot) full. P39 was unstable also. Ammunition stores also played a big part in CoG.

beet1e · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2002, 03:49:15 AM »

Interesting, Undeth. I note that by default (without pilot intervention) the 190A5 consumes fuel from the front tank first, then the aft. That would result in the C of G shifting backwards until the front tank was empty.

Wilbus · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2002, 07:02:06 AM »

Beet1e, all 190's consume FWD tank first, not sure why it's like this since it moves the CG to a VERY bad place.

Endeth, The best way in the 190 is to use the AFT tank first, a plane that is heavy in the back stalls and spins easier, use the AFT tank down to about 20-25% (or even less, I prefer to have some fuel incase my FWD tank gets hit). When it's around 20% put it on Auto again.

Will answer all yer questions about 190's in AH if you like but gotto go now, thunderstorm aproaching...

POOF

Modas · « **Reply #4 on:** June 13, 2002, 07:35:20 AM »

Endeth, The best way in the 190 is to use the AFT tank first, a plane that is heavy in the back stalls and spins easier, use the AFT tank down to about 20-25% (or even less, I prefer to have some fuel incase my FWD tank gets hit). When it's around 20% put it on Auto again.

POOF [/B][/QUOTE]

How do you turn the tank burning sequence back to auto? I know shift F (or something like that) will let you select individual tanks, but could never find the command to turn it back on to auto select.

This will clear up a great mystery for me if you can answer...

Thanks

Naudet · « **Reply #5 on:** June 13, 2002, 07:47:22 AM »

Just cycle through all tanks with shif-F until there reappears the "A-" in front of any tank designation. Than its back at auto.

i.e. in FW190:

default:
A-FWD

1st "shift-F"
AFT

2nd "shift-F"
FWD

3rd "shift-F"
A-FWD

Wilbus · « **Reply #6 on:** June 13, 2002, 09:39:07 AM »

What Naudet said, always when it's an "A" infront of the tank name it's on Auto

K West · « **Reply #7 on:** June 13, 2002, 09:48:15 AM »

And I believe using the auto-fuel feature is not as logical or as efficient in using fuel as when manually selecting tanks.

Westy

Ghosth · « **Reply #8 on:** June 13, 2002, 11:20:32 AM »

When I flew the 205 a lot I'd burn the wings first, then aux, then shift back to auto before entering combat. Seemed to help esp on the roll rate.

Turbot · « **Reply #9 on:** June 13, 2002, 12:28:02 PM »

Bring a programable fuel burn sequence to aces high - something you can set just like you do for views - for each plane.

I also heard you should drain the wing tanks in a 152 first?

Wilbus · « **Reply #10 on:** June 13, 2002, 12:48:53 PM »

Yes, ALWAYS drain wing tanks in TA152, then AFT tank and last FWD.

Two reason, first, lighter wings means they won't brake as easy, being as long as they are they will brake very easily even when empty.
Second, you both roll better and turn better with wing tanks gone.

funkedup · « **Reply #11 on:** June 13, 2002, 02:23:16 PM »

For most of the planes it's not a big deal.

P-51 is the only one where it makes a big difference. Always drain the aft tank first or you will be prone to spinning.

Fw 190A & D main tanks are right over the wing. It makes almost no difference which one you drain first. The AUX tank is behind the pilot though, and should be drained first.

funkedup · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2002, 02:25:28 PM »

BTW nobody seems to remember the main advantage of automatic fuel tank switching. In planes with wing tanks it automatically keeps you balanced left-to-right.

Wilbus · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2002, 02:36:51 PM »

TA152 doesn't have Auto wing tank untill AFT tank is somewhat empty, this is bad, gotto do it manually.

As for the 190's, it's (to me atleast) a pretty big difference between the feeling and stall charecteristics.

The AFT fuel tank is stationed directly after the Forward fuel tank. The AFT tank forward edge beginning a little bit in under the pilots seat and contineuing backwards.

HFMudd · « **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2002, 02:40:56 PM »

But couldn't the code be modified to attempt to keep the CG at some point? There could be a slider in the hanger and/or a dot command that we could use to set the point that the auto-tank-selector attempts to keep the CG. (I'm guessing some folks would want to make their mount a little nose heavy.)

In other words, don't have the auto drain them evenly, but instead have it drain them to keep the plane balanced.