F/A-18 330 gal drop tanks

[MarcJackson]

Hi, I don't suppose anyone has got a photo or two of the standard F/A-18 drop tank when it is not on the aircraft? I am trying to show the connection/attachment point details and even the F/A-18 books omit this area.

[GW8345]

This is a Super Hornets tank but the details are the same on the FPU-8/A.

The chain is around the forward lug, it will look the same as the aft lug
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi.../Drop_tank.jpg

here's the back end with the aft connections/pipes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/usnavy/...n/photostream/

hth

[MarcJackson]

Thank you.

[Loki]

The Super Hornet F/A-18E/F uses the FPU-11 480 gallon fuel tank.
The Legacy F/A-18A/B/C/D uses the FPU-8 330 gallon fuel tank.

The 480 is obviously larger as it has greater capacity, and the 330 is not used on the Supers except for early test birds I believe.

[GW8345]

Originally Posted by Loki

The Super Hornet F/A-18E/F uses the FPU-11 480 gallon fuel tank.
The Legacy F/A-18A/B/C/D uses the FPU-8 330 gallon fuel tank.

The 480 is obviously larger as it has greater capacity, and the 330 is not used on the Supers except for early test birds I believe.

To add for informational purposes, the Super Hornet also uses the FPU-12, which is basically externally identical to the FPU-11 but will have dark gray nose and tail cones. The differences (externally) between the variants is where the access panel is located and depending on time frame will determine how you can load them.

Basically, before 2012 they had to be loaded symmetrically, after 2012 they can be loaded asymmetrically, centerline does not matter. Also, lot 21-24 have to have them loaded symmetrically, no matter the time frame.

[Banker]

Originally Posted by GW8345

...the Super Hornet also uses the FPU-12, which is basically externally identical to the FPU-12...

???

[GW8345]

Originally Posted by Banker

???

Whoops, meant to say the FPU-12 is externally identical to the FPU-11 with the exception for one access panel.

The major differences are all internal.

[MarcJackson]

I've scoured books and the web for info and or photos of a drop tank being transported to or from an aircraft but to no avail. I've even been immersed in the TPUB guides showing all the different MHU and Aero equipment and have learned a great deal but I'm still none the wiser.

Can an empty F/A-18 (legacy) external tank be carried on a MHU-191 with an Aero 58 adapter?

[GW8345]

Originally Posted by MarcJackson

I've scoured books and the web for info and or photos of a drop tank being transported to or from an aircraft but to no avail. I've even been immersed in the TPUB guides showing all the different MHU and Aero equipment and have learned a great deal but I'm still none the wiser.

Can an empty F/A-18 (legacy) external tank be carried on a MHU-191 with an Aero 58 adapter?

You can use the MHU-191 but the tanks used a special adapter called the "Fuel Tank Adapter (F/A-18) (P/N 74D750042-1001)", it looks like an AERO 58 but does not have the rollers.

Look on page 2-138 (page 198 in pdf) of this book, this is the loading manual for the F-18A-D;
http://www.webtekdemo.com/Z_Pub_PMK%...AE-LWS-000.pdf

hth

Also, if you can find the NAVAIR 11-140-25, that will give you the support equipment configurations for just about all USN/USMC ordnance/stores.

Also, depending on scale, and once you put a tank on the skid, no one is going to be able to tell if the adapters are AERO 58's or the fuel tank adapter so I won't get too wrapped up in getting the right adapter, the 58's and FT Adapter look almost the same once the tank it on the skid.

[MarcJackson]

Thanks Gerry, with all your import this darn model should be dedicated to you.

[GW8345]

Originally Posted by MarcJackson

Thanks Gerry, with all your import this darn model should be dedicated to you.

No worries, pleasure to help out

[MarcJackson]

I just found these from the US Navy site, but are they larger tanks used by the Super Hornet?

[GW8345]

Originally Posted by MarcJackson

I just found these from the US Navy site, but are they larger tanks used by the Super Hornet?

The tank in the top pic is a buddy store and the bottom pic is a Super Hornet tank.

Can you use that, sure, but those skids are so cumbersome that they are not usually used for drop tanks. Also, that skid is for the buddy store, not drop tank so you wouldn't normally use them since there isn't that many on the ship/station but in a pinch, you use what works.

[RexinTN]

ack !! all of their "yella geer" is faded to a white color

yuck

[GW8345]

Yep, Navy/USMC started to switch over from yellow to white for the SE back in the early 90's.

What really confused the younger kids was when the old timers kept referring to the SE as "yella gear" when it was white.

And we won't even get into SAF Cards, WUC manuals and paper VIDS/MAF's.

[MarcJackson]

Has anybody got a photo of the connector on the rear of the drop tank? The part which attaches to the rear of the pylon for stability.

Finding details on these tanks is harder than finding info on classified nukes.

The DACO book has one small image of this connection but I was hoping for a shot of a tank whilst off the aircraft. As for the main lugs and connections - I have managed to produce these from some photos as reference.


Please, please

[GW8345]

Originally Posted by MarcJackson

Has anybody got a photo of the connector on the rear of the drop tank? The part which attaches to the rear of the pylon for stability.

Finding details on these tanks is harder than finding info on classified nukes.

The DACO book has one small image of this connection but I was hoping for a shot of a tank whilst off the aircraft. As for the main lugs and connections - I have managed to produce these from some photos as reference.


Please, please

PM me your e-mail address, I don't have any photos but do have the illustrated parts breakdown drawing for the aft post that might be helplful.

[hionsalt]

MarcJackson
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