F6F fuel tank location

[gjs238]

Where was the Hellcat's fuel tank?
I seem to remember the pilot more or less sat on it.

 

[tyrodtom]

A 60 gallon tank was under the cockpit floor, and 2-87 gal. tanks at the inner wing roots.

That's pretty much like any single engine prop aircraft. You want the majority of the fuel as close to the center of gravity as possible so you don't have constant trim changes as you use fuel, and the pilot is usually close to the CoG also.

 

[GregP]

The inner wing root tanks are 87.5 gallons and are basically under the cockpit floor, too. It was an early concern when performing ground support runs, but never proved to be very vulnerable since all were self-sealing.

 

[tomo pauk]

Here is the Hellcat's ACP, the layout of the fuel tanks is at the last page:

http://www.alternatewars.com/SAC/F6F-3_Hellcat_ACP_-_1_October_1945.pdf

 

[GregP]

Good post, tomo! Thanks!

 

[davebender]

You want the majority of the fuel as close to the center of gravity as possible so you don't have constant trim changes as you use fuel

A fuselage fuel tank is also easier to protect with armor. Fuselage fuel tank armor can serve to partially protect the pilot. For a ground attack aircraft I think an armored tank beneath the pilot would be ideal.

 

[gjs238]

With hindsight, it seems that Vought would not have arranged the fuel cells in the F4U as ended up.
Putting the tank in front of the pilot made for a nice slim "tubular" shaped fuselage, but ended up pushing the cockpit relatively far to the rear.

Of course, we know that this was done to accommodate the change from 2 .30 cal guns in the fuselage and 2 .50 cal guns in the wings to 6 .50 cal guns in the wings. But the F6F did not have this issue.