Someone did the math ...
I did for one. Some examples are
here. Speed does not seem to be effected.
Hey, why would someone want their plane to be 200-500+ pounds lighter?
If you can arrange your plane to be 500 pounds lighter when it arrives at an area where multiple fighter plane engagements are occurring would you?
Of course the PILOT is the main factor. If something such as weight only makes a 5% difference, some of us are nutty enough to want to play with that phenomena once in a while.
Maybe "dumped" was the wrong term. Let me rephrase the wish:
Would it be possible to have an option choose to take off without 7mm or .303s?EDIT:
No one, I repeat NO ONE on combat operations be it on the ground or in the air has ever knowingly dumped or not taken ammo that they could reasonably have carried.
I saw a quote where one of the top German aces did make such in-the-field changes. Preferring to have 2 x 20mm in his BF-109f etc.. Then again maybe it was never ever done. Ever!
Hey if this is going to cause a lot of contention no biggie. Cant hurt to ask right.