Elysian, as already mentioned, in RL the AUX tank behind the pilot was optional. IMHO, it should also be optional in AH. Not only that, but the A-8 is more heavily armoured and armed than the A-5. The cowl bulges also add a little drag, though not by a huge amount. What does add more serious drag is the A-8's ETC 501 belly rack. Unfortunately most A-8s (at least most that I have seen documented) carried the ETC 501. It was a poor design, especially when compared to the ETC 504. Simply put, it was much larger than it needed to be and contributed a lot of parasitic drag.
Besides seeing the option of removing the AUX tank in AH, I'd personally also like to see the option of replacing it with a GM1 tank. I've searced far and wide for evidence of how many A-8s used GM1 nitrous oxide injection but have been unable to get accurate data. What I do know is that it was used by only a minority of Anton-8s, but that it probably amounted to several hundred aircraft - certainly more than enough for it to be considered as a combat option in a sim.
We've all seen the graphs contained in the Fw 190A-8 pilot manual that have been scanned & promulgated on the web, and there is data for the A-8 using GM1. Using NO2, performance above 26,000 ft was markedly increased. Although it certainly didn't put the A-8 in the same class as the G-10 or K-4 , it did make interception of US heavies somewhat easier as it gave the A-8 which was "breathless" at high alt a bit of extra puff.
I can't imagine many players would want to be flying the A-8 >25,000 ft in the MA anyway, but it could certainly be useful in historical scenarios, and IMHO it should be there as an option, much like DTs or weapon configurations.
