Tip tanks - pro's and con's
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Florida, USA
Tip tanks - pro's and con's
I've just been trying to do some homework on the effect of tip tanks on drag.
Struck me whilst struggling to find something definitive - that there seems to be very little about them.
Anybody know of any good reference sites that can give me some factual clues - if not, want to list your own suggestions (with reasons) as to the general benefits (or otherwise) of tip tanks?
Struck me whilst struggling to find something definitive - that there seems to be very little about them.
Anybody know of any good reference sites that can give me some factual clues - if not, want to list your own suggestions (with reasons) as to the general benefits (or otherwise) of tip tanks?
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: UK
(1) They reduce wing bending moments due to moving mass out from the centre of the aircraft. Consequently they should extend the fatigue life of the upper wing skins, mainspar and D-box.
(2) They tend to prevent swirl around the wingtip, which reduces induced drag.
(3) They tend to increase profile drag, primarily through interference drag at the attachment point. This however is generally less than the reduction in induced drag.
(4) ESDU data sheets are the best place for such wisdom, the abstract for the sheet you need is at http://www.esdu.com/cgi-bin/ps.pl?se...t&t=di&p=97017 although I'm afraid that you'll need to either buy the sheet you need (they're a mercenary bunch at ESDU) or get it through a good technical library. If you do a search on the ESDU website you'll probably find some other relevant data sheets.
G
(2) They tend to prevent swirl around the wingtip, which reduces induced drag.
(3) They tend to increase profile drag, primarily through interference drag at the attachment point. This however is generally less than the reduction in induced drag.
(4) ESDU data sheets are the best place for such wisdom, the abstract for the sheet you need is at http://www.esdu.com/cgi-bin/ps.pl?se...t&t=di&p=97017 although I'm afraid that you'll need to either buy the sheet you need (they're a mercenary bunch at ESDU) or get it through a good technical library. If you do a search on the ESDU website you'll probably find some other relevant data sheets.
G
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: North Carolina, USA, Planet Earth
Try this link:
http://naca.larc.nasa.gov/reports/1951/naca-rm-a50k15/
for a report on tunnel testing of several tank geometries.
They also increase the moment of inertia around the roll axis more than fuselage and wing-integral tanks of the same capacity.
http://naca.larc.nasa.gov/reports/1951/naca-rm-a50k15/
for a report on tunnel testing of several tank geometries.
They also increase the moment of inertia around the roll axis more than fuselage and wing-integral tanks of the same capacity.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
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From: UK
Good point that, altering the lateral rotational inertia by fitting tip tanks will alter the A:B ratio. The consequence is likely to be modified spinning characteristics (aside from the alteration due to aerodynamic effects), an increased roll mode time constant, and possibly an altered Dutch Roll characteristic.
G
G
Props are for boats!
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: An Asian Hub
Not an engineer
But they sure wobble out there when in your turbulence in a C402B. 190 Litres in each one thats a 44gallon, 55gallon drum( what ever side of the pond youron) on each wing, yikes!Great bus the C402 , roomy Cadillac of the GA Skys.....
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 343
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From: UK
Tip tanks are a mixed blessing with regard to wing bending moments. Full they can give bending relief (although inertia in turbulence can undo this) as, for the same amount of fuel carried, less of it may be in the fuselage (the Canberra is a case in point). However, empty they increase wing bending stress as they move the centre of pressure outwards (reduction of induced drag and increase of lift at the tips because of reduced spillage from lower surface to upper surface). Canberra 'g' limits were +3g (or was it +3.5g?) with tips and +4.5g without.Their effect on B:A ratio with regard to spinning is very significant. Full tips will make the spin very stable, so much so that recovery may become impossible. Don't spin a JP or Strikemaster with fuel in the tips!
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: uk
Mr Cessna reckons they keep the gas away from the pax in the event of a crash. They also look really pretty and I vote for the 421B as hands down winner over the C model. Who's idea was it to put the tip tank scavenge pump CB's on the landing light CB though? I always found that somewhat bizarre.
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: CYZV
Saw a GII once with tip tanks. Had French registration, but I believe it was based in Zurich. The crew told me they used to get down to central Africa with it, and fuel was sometimes scarce. I think the tips carried about a thousand pounds apiece.
I thought it wasn't a pretty mod. Sure made the airplane look different.
I thought it wasn't a pretty mod. Sure made the airplane look different.
