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F-15s With 2 External Tanks  
User currently offlineVzlet From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 820 posts, RR: 0
Posted (6 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 2411 times:

Three recently added (and very nice!) shots from Nellis show F-15s with pairs of 600-gallon tanks rather than the more typical centerline-mounted single tank. Is this a recent trend, something relatively unique, or just a practice that I've been slow to notice?

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"That's so stupid! If they're so secret, why are they out where everyone can see them?" - my kid
12 replies: All unread, jump to last
 
User currently offlineF4wso From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 974 posts, RR: 13
Reply 1, posted (6 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 2397 times:

It has been a common load configuration for the F-15 lifespan. The F-15E has the conformal tank option. The F-4 switched from the standard two 370 gallon externals to the single 600 gallon McDonnell Douglas tank used on the F-15 because of the latter's higher available G tolerance. A modification was made to the Phantom's underside to accept the tank's aft pivot point. The former Royal Jet 600 gallon centerline could still be used.
Gary
Cottage Grove, MN, USA


Seeking an honest week's pay for an honest day's work
User currently offlineVzlet From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 820 posts, RR: 0
Reply 2, posted (6 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2371 times:

Thanks, Gary. I guess it falls into the "slow to notice" category! Looking through the database, the practice seems to become more common (on non-E models) from 1997 onward.

-Mark


"That's so stupid! If they're so secret, why are they out where everyone can see them?" - my kid
User currently offlineVenus6971 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 1410 posts, RR: 1
Reply 3, posted (6 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 2344 times:

With the centerline installed you can't load the cannon since the access panel is right above the foward part of the tank.


I would help you but it is not in the contract
User currently offlineChecksixx From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 996 posts, RR: 0
Reply 4, posted (6 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 2313 times:

 bigthumbsup  Venus

User currently offlinePADSpot From Germany, joined Jan 2005, 1676 posts, RR: 5
Reply 5, posted (6 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 2287 times:

Quoting F4wso (Reply 1):
The F-15E has the conformal tank option.

Correct if I am wrong, but something is ringing in the back of my head that F-15C/D are also able to carry CFTs although it is rarely done. Wikipedia is backing that also, although I admit that it is a bad source ...

User currently offlineF4wso From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 974 posts, RR: 13
Reply 6, posted (6 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 2223 times:

I am not that familiar with the external stores options on the Eagle. I have only seen the conformals on Mud Hen. It is quite likely that the C/D also has the plumbing.
Gary
Cottage Grove, MN, USA


Seeking an honest week's pay for an honest day's work
User currently offlineVenus6971 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 1410 posts, RR: 1
Reply 7, posted (6 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 2217 times:

The CFT's was an option for the C/D an old eagle keeper told me once but with present mission requirments and the hassle of installing them plus the age creeping up on the C/D's they are not needed. On the other hand with the E model with its mass bomb loads with 3 externals and CFT's it needs them and bigger beefier landing gear it needs all the gas it can carry espicially long missions it did during OEF. Besides most of the fuel was burned in the externals just getting airborne in AB with war load . The F-100 P 229 is a thirsty engine.


I would help you but it is not in the contract
User currently offlinePADSpot From Germany, joined Jan 2005, 1676 posts, RR: 5
Reply 8, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2018 times:

I found this by coincidence


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CFTs for F-15C/D seem to be special in that they replicate the four fuselage BVR weapon ports that become hidden by attaching the CFTs.

User currently offlineKC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11714 posts, RR: 52
Reply 9, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2014 times:

Don't the Isrealis use the CFTs on their F-15C/Ds? But, you usually see them only on the F-15E, and the varients from it (F-15K, etc.). There is also a CFT available for the F-16C/D, from block 30 and on.

User currently offlineCitation501sp From United States of America, joined exactly 13 years ago today! , 194 posts, RR: 0
Reply 10, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1944 times:

The 57th FIS out of Iceland, used the CFT on their F-15s due to the overwater distances they traveled during intercepts and training missions. If I recall Correctly, they were the only USAF Unit to be equiped with CFTs as standard equipment.



501SP


Smoke and Thunder! Stage 2 FOREVER!!!
User currently offlinePADSpot From Germany, joined Jan 2005, 1676 posts, RR: 5
Reply 11, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1901 times:

Can an F-15C with three external tanks and two CFTs cross the the Atlantic cont-to-cont without refueling?

User currently offlineVenus6971 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 1410 posts, RR: 1
Reply 12, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 1881 times:

Quoting PADSpot (Reply 11):
Can an F-15C with three external tanks and two CFTs cross the the Atlantic cont-to-cont without refueling?


From my tanker crew chief days IMHO if they use the Gander as a last refueling stop and wind s are favorable maybe but I have been on a couple eagle drags and they usally tanked 3 times.


I would help you but it is not in the contract
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