EE Lightning over wing tanks

[Tangopilot89]

Hey everyone, I've been to yet another aircraft museum and while I was admiring the English Electric Lightning, I noticed the fuel drop tanks were over the wings rather than under them, which is where I thought they always were on every combat aircraft. I was wondering why they did this, because 1 - isn't this bad for aerodynamics and 2 - what happens if the tanks need to be jettisoned in flight? Can anyone explain please? I'm completely confused.

Thank you
Andy

 

[buffnut453]

The overwing tanks were implemented because of the way the Lightning's undercarriage retracted into the wing, which didn't leave any room for stores to be carried under the wings.

AFAIK, the overwing tanks could not be jettisoned in flight.

 

[Tangopilot89]

I've just looked at my Lightning model after reading your response and I understand now, the undercarriage takes up a lot of space under each wing so there's no room for anything else. I get it, thank you for en-lightening me (pun intended). Flying around with those on your wings must have seriously affected performance knowing you can't ditch them when you're finished with them.

Thanks again
Andy

 

[pbehn]

I've just looked at my Lightning model after reading your response and I understand now, the undercarriage takes up a lot of space under each wing so there's no room for anything else. I get it, thank you for en-lightening me (pun intended). Flying around with those on your wings must have seriously affected performance knowing you can't ditch them when you're finished with them.

Thanks again
Andy

There is another school of thought, in order to make any sales impossible the designers were ordered to make a classic mean machine look comical, fat and ugly.

 

[Tangopilot89]

There is another school of thought, in order to make any sales impossible the designers were ordered to make a classic mean machine look comical, fat and ugly.

Why oh why cant they solve the problem without ruining the look of the aircraft? I guess it's something we will never know

 

[pbehn]

Why oh why cant they solve the problem without ruining the look of the aircraft? I guess it's something we will never know

I don't really know what the tanks were for. I find it hard to believe it was to increase interception range in combat, if they could go supersonic and up to Mach 2.2 with those tanks then anything can. Maybe to transport between bases in Europe or maybe to just escort Tu 4 Bears out of UK airspace, in the warm parts of the cold war the pilots on both sides got to know each other, both sides using the opportunity for propaganda pics.

 

[buffnut453]

I don't really know what the tanks were for. I find it hard to believe it was to increase interception range in combat, if they could go supersonic and up to Mach 2.2 with those tanks then anything can. Maybe to transport between bases in Europe or maybe to just escort Tu 4 Bears out of UK airspace, in the warm parts of the cold war the pilots on both sides got to know each other, both sides using the opportunity for propaganda pics.

They were "long range" ferry tanks ("long range" being a relative term....at least where the Lightning is concerned).

 

[pbehn]

They were "long range" ferry tanks ("long range" being a relative term....at least where the Lightning is concerned).

I read on this forum that Lightning pilots only went supersonic in the direction of fuel as a general rule.

 

[buffnut453]

I read on this forum that Lightning pilots only went supersonic in the direction of fuel as a general rule.

And downhill...more efficient that way.

 

[Airframes]

The over-wing tanks were often described as 'transit tanks', and were intended for use when the aircraft was transitting to a an APC (Armament Practice Camp), normally in the Med. They were removed on arrival.

 

[Tangopilot89]

I read on this forum that Lightning pilots only went supersonic in the direction of fuel as a general rule.

Haha I can imagine that! Including the downhill bit too. That'll be all the time then judging by the way the Lightning drinks fuel. Don't know why, but I still love the way it was just you, ejector seat, massive engines, wings, fuel, the end. Where you had to actually take it by the scruff of the neck and fly the thing.

PS. Shout out to Airframes's post above, that's an interesting fun fact.

 

[fubar57]

We like him

 

[Tangopilot89]

We like him

Who are you referring to mate? Seriously, I'm not trying to be deliberately stupid here.

 

[fubar57]

Terry (airframes) knowledgeable and sharing to a fault

 

[buffnut453]

We like him

"Like" is a bit strong. "Tolerate" is more appropriate....then again, you tolerate me!

 

[Lucky13]

"Like" is a bit strong. "Tolerate" is more appropriate....then again, you tolerate me!

Much like, the way you tolerate, accept, some house pets....we've tolerated, accepted him for that long now, that he actually goes with the furniture here on the forum....
Don't get him started on his all-time favourite aircraft, the Grumman Wildcat, then he'll just hijack the thread to tell about this aircraft superiority over all other fighters, or lack of any flaws to put it simple....the skies Marilyn Monroe as he likes to call it....

 

[fubar57]

......Jan was last seen high-tailing it over the Highlands, followed closely by an irate retired British ex-para

 

[Airframes]

I'll catch up with him when the battery on my mobility scooter is charged !!!

 

[buffnut453]

And yet another perfectly decent thread descends into anarchy.

I love this place!

 

[Lucky13]

I'll catch up with him when the battery on my mobility scooter is charged !!!

Doesn't take too long to charge a 9 volt battery, does it?