Airplanes have a center of gravity, some components are fixed, and never change the center of gravity, as the engine, others are expendable, as fuel. Aircraft designers, attempt to keep the expendables in the center of gravity so the plane does not change its flight characteristics. The two worst US aircraft, were the P51, and P38, the P51 had to use the 85 gallon tank up first, to make the plane fly normal, the P38 had the weapons way out front, making for a severe center of gravity change. Most planes place the ammo, and fuel in the wings, so expending both will not change the center of gravity.
The p38 handled differently after it used up ammo.
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01-06-2012, 03:29 PM
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