A5M droptank?

[ThomasP]

The Curtiss P-1 Hawk either had a slipper tank when it entered service in late-1925, or was retrofitted with them shortly after. I do not know if the tank was droppable.

P-1 Hawk 1925

P-1A Hawk 1926

The earliest US aircraft with DTs that I have been able to find pictures of are the Boeing F4B/P-12 series of fighters from the early-1930s. Although these photos are of later models, the F4B-1 used a similar style slipper tank when it entered service in early-1930. The slipper tank was listed as "jettisonable" in the manuals.

F4B-4 (F4B-1 entered service in 1930)

P-12E 1932

 

[Greg Boeser]

What? Only if it's filled with napalm. I think something is being lost in translation here.

I think what he means is a drop tank is a combat multiplier. An (non-jettisonible) auxiliary tank, not so much.

 

[MiTasol]

the worst problem with the slipper tanks is they are an inverted aerofoil so not only create drag but they create negative (downwards) lift.

 

[Admiral Beez]

the worst problem with the slipper tanks is they are an inverted aerofoil so not only create drag but they create negative (downwards) lift.

I suppose a piggyback tank is out of the question.

 

[fastmongrel]

I suppose a piggyback tank is out of the question.

SARO London had a piggyback tank. Jettisoning it might have been awkward.

 

[Conslaw]

the worst problem with the slipper tanks is they are an inverted aerofoil so not only create drag but they create negative (downwards) lift.

For that reason, the conformal fuel tanks on the F-18E/F Super Hornet are on top of the wing and produce added lift. The conformal tanks on the F-15E are on the sides and integrated so well the planes have to be specially prepped to fly without them.

 

[GrauGeist]

The BAE Lightning carried it's drop tanks on the top of it's mainwings.