The musings & rants of 3 retired military (2 USAF, 1 USN), 1 former WSO, and 1 AF brat. Old AF Sarge, Juvat, Tuna, LUSH, and Beans.
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Monday, August 12, 2013
Gettin' Gas...
Eagles at Sunset
I'm on the road, blogging could be sparse from time to time but I found that picture above and just had to find a good Eagle video to go with it. I think I found one.
Aggressors out of Nellis, hittin' the tanker. No music, just flying. Check out the pilot's helmet!
Apropos o' nuthin'... I occasionally see 130s out o' Cannon orbiting around P-ville refueling behind KC-135s from Gawd-knows-where. Even that is an amazing sight.
Well, thanks Sarge! Got my morning off to a good, if nostalgic, start. I do have a question for you or one of your readers. Does anyone know why the USAF went to a two wing tank config for the Eagle? When I was flying it (dodging Pterodactyls), we flew clean, centerline or three bag if we were going someplace, never two wing tanks.
I've wandered the web searching for an answer to that question. I now know more about external fuel tanks and CFTs than I would have thought possible.
But still no answer as to the wing tanks versus the centerline. I seem to recall seeing somewhere that the centerline tank (empty or full) can handle higher g-loads than the wing tanks. But my head was starting to hurt at that point so I stopped reading. (Still wouldn't explain the use of just two wing tanks.)
Yeah, as I recall, the centerline G limits were the same as the aircraft's (9Gs), I seem to recall that the wing tanks were maybe 7. So my hypotenuse is that they've loaded them that way so the G warning will start to trigger in the 6-6.5 range and minimize the structural failures with the longitudinal braces that caused the fleet to be grounded a few years ago. Preserve the 9gs for when you really need them.
Aggressor squadron there...
ReplyDeleteYessir!
DeleteNo music, just flying.
ReplyDeleteThat's the way The Deity At Hand intended it.
Apropos o' nuthin'... I occasionally see 130s out o' Cannon orbiting around P-ville refueling behind KC-135s from Gawd-knows-where. Even that is an amazing sight.
I've seen 130s give gas, but never get gas. That would be a sight to see!
DeleteWell, thanks Sarge! Got my morning off to a good, if nostalgic, start. I do have a question for you or one of your readers. Does anyone know why the USAF went to a two wing tank config for the Eagle? When I was flying it (dodging Pterodactyls), we flew clean, centerline or three bag if we were going someplace, never two wing tanks.
ReplyDeleteI've wandered the web searching for an answer to that question. I now know more about external fuel tanks and CFTs than I would have thought possible.
DeleteBut still no answer as to the wing tanks versus the centerline. I seem to recall seeing somewhere that the centerline tank (empty or full) can handle higher g-loads than the wing tanks. But my head was starting to hurt at that point so I stopped reading. (Still wouldn't explain the use of just two wing tanks.)
Yeah, as I recall, the centerline G limits were the same as the aircraft's (9Gs), I seem to recall that the wing tanks were maybe 7. So my hypotenuse is that they've loaded them that way so the G warning will start to trigger in the 6-6.5 range and minimize the structural failures with the longitudinal braces that caused the fleet to be grounded a few years ago. Preserve the 9gs for when you really need them.
DeleteBest explanation I've heard so far. Makes sense.
DeleteGorgeous pic! (as usual)
ReplyDeleteThanks Proof.
Delete