Drop tank: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:V-2 Leaflet testsitearea.jpg|thumb|German leaflet of WW2 stating in German and Polish that a drop tank is |
[[Image:V-2 Leaflet testsitearea.jpg|thumb|German leaflet of WW2 stating in German and Polish that a drop tank is not a bomb.]] |
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A '''drop tank''' |
A '''drop tank''' is an expendable and jettisonable external [[fuel tank]] carried by [[aircraft]] for long-range [[flight]]s. It is designed to be discarded when empty or in the event of [[combat]] or emergency in order to reduce drag and weight. |
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The drop tank was first used during [[World War II]] to allow [[fighter aircraft]] to carry additional fuel for long-range escort flights without requiring a dramatically larger, heavier, less maneuverable [[fuselage]]. Such tanks are now commonplace on [[military aircraft]] and occasionally for [[civilian]] use, although civilian aircrafts are less likely to discard tanks except in the event of extreme emergency. |
The drop tank was first used during [[World War II]] to allow [[fighter aircraft]] to carry additional fuel for long-range escort flights without requiring a dramatically larger, heavier, less maneuverable [[fuselage]]. Such tanks are now commonplace on [[military aircraft]] and occasionally for [[civilian]] use, although civilian aircrafts are less likely to discard tanks except in the event of extreme emergency. |
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Revision as of 20:41, 4 August 2007
A drop tank is an expendable and jettisonable external fuel tank carried by aircraft for long-range flights. It is designed to be discarded when empty or in the event of combat or emergency in order to reduce drag and weight.
The drop tank was first used during World War II to allow fighter aircraft to carry additional fuel for long-range escort flights without requiring a dramatically larger, heavier, less maneuverable fuselage. Such tanks are now commonplace on military aircraft and occasionally for civilian use, although civilian aircrafts are less likely to discard tanks except in the event of extreme emergency.
The primary disadvantage with drop tanks is that they impose a drag penalty on the aircraft carrying them. A rule of thumb is that only about half the capacity of a streamlined drop tank actually goes towards increasing the aircraft's overall range, the rest going to overcome the added drag of the tank itself. The use of drop tanks also reduces the number of external hardpoints available for weapons, and increase the aircraft's radar signature, both problematic for modern tactical aircraft.
Some modern combat aircraft use conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) instead of or in addition to drop tanks. CFTs produce less drag and do not take up external hardpoints, but can only be removed on the ground.
