Rod, the drag is in fact modeled. And the weight. If you KEEP them you suffer quite a bit taking off and actually climbing out. They keep them like that to use as a novelty like you mentioned, getting away from a target. Not overly historic, but then neither is bombing CVs in Ar234s, eh? The item itself and its execution and modelling is correct, and we use it how we like. You could nose down and ignite them when facing the ground, if you liked. Technically that would work in reality too -- you'd just not get a respawn like in this game.