Quote:
Originally Posted by fireftr18
Are those actually fuel tanks on above wing hard points?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Catfish
If they are, the pilot had to fly inverted to jettison them.
If they are containers for cluster bomblets i do not want to know what happens if being fired  |
Yes, they are fuel tanks but 'fixed' and not designed to be 'jettisoned'.
The Lightning was developed to intercept increasingly capable bomber aircraft (Tupolev Tu-16, Tupolev Tu-22, Tupolev Tu-95), and thus has exceptional rate of climb, ceiling, and speed. This performance made the Lightning a "fuel-critical" aircraft, meaning that its missions were dictated to a high degree by its limited range, hence the overwing tanks for extending said range.