Did Lockheed invent tip tanks?

Stephan Wilkinson · **Joined:** Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:23 am **Posts:** 699

Can anybody think of any airplane that predated the P-80 and had external tip tanks? Not talking about drop tanks, just pure tip tanks (and not the kind of "tip tanks" that are basically wing extensions filled with fuel).

The only thing I can come up with from that era, even, is the Super Constellation, but I think that postdated its jet stablemate.

It never occurred to me that Kelly Johnson might have invented tip tanks. Wonder if he patented them...

Stephan Wilkinson · **Joined:** Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:23 am **Posts:** 699

Can anybody think of any airplane that predated the P-80 and had external tip tanks? Not talking about drop tanks, just pure tip tanks (and not the kind of "tip tanks" that are basically wing extensions filled with fuel).

The only thing I can come up with from that era, even, is the Super Constellation, but I think that postdated its jet stablemate.

It never occurred to me that Kelly Johnson might have invented tip tanks. Wonder if he patented them...

Stephan Wilkinson · **Joined:** Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:23 am **Posts:** 699

Posted too hastily. Kelly Johnson indeed patented the tip tank, in 1944.

Also, apologies for the multiple posts. Dunno how that happened.

JohnB · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2021 5:04 pm

Wonder how if he (or more likely Lockheed) made much off of them?
They were de rigueur on early jets.

Noha307 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2021 6:18 pm

The patent in question seems to be: 2,421,699 - Auxiliary Fuel Tank filed on 12 May 1944 and assigned to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. Other related patents include:

2,416,104 - Detachable Wing Tip Tank - Filed 22 March 1944
2,505,604 - Dropable Wing Tip Tank - Filed 1 February 1947 - Assigned to United Aircraft Corporation
2,537,369 - Droppable Wing Tank Incorporating Additional Wing Area - Filed 29 January 1948 - Assigned to McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
2,575,534 - Wing Tip Fuel Tank - Filed 3 July 1948 - Assigned to Northrop Aircraft, Inc.
2,584,961 - Jet-Propelled Airplane with Jettisonable Wing Tip Fuel Tanks - Filed 8 September 1945 - Assigned to Goodyear Aircraft Corporation
2,681,192 - Wing Tip Tank Construction - Filed 7 April 1950 - Assigned to Republic Aviation Corporation
2,955,787 - Auxiliary Fuel Tank - Filed 27 December 1956 - Assigned to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation

quemerford · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:19 pm **Posts:** 1572

Yet another "can you do my leg-work for me?" post that you won't get any thanks or response for.

k5083 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 21, 2021 1:33 pm

Yes, Johnson and Lockheed did file for a patent.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US2421699

The original filing date was May 1944. It was, of course, for the original under-wing type used on the P-80. It's cute that they drew a propeller on what is otherwise recognizably a P-80, consistent with secrecy about the jet.

There don't appear to be earlier patents for tip tanks, although there are some for jettisonable wing tips to be used for heavy takeoffs.

August

Stephan Wilkinson · **Joined:** Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:23 am **Posts:** 699

Thanks. I saw that, although I should have done so before posting my query, and I was also amused by the propellor.

Noha307 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 21, 2021 7:56 pm

quemerford wrote:

Yet another "can you do my leg-work for me?" post that you won't get any thanks or response for.

I'm actually glad the subject was brought up because I hadn't thought of it and can add it to the aircraft design firsts thread.

I don't always mind looking up the information. I just kind of wish that people would provide sources sometimes. I'm hesitant to ask for them because it makes it sound like I'm questioning someone's integrity when that's not the point. Among many reasons, sources are so often great for learning more about subject and I enjoy checking them out myself. It can also make finding similar information easier.

I would appreciate responses, but it's only because I'm always worried that I'm bothering people by spamming WIX by bumping up the same bunch of threads that people may find mundane, boring or are not always directly related to warbirds. So, I would just like to make sure that this is not the case. I hope that the strict formatting I've used hasn't scared people off from commenting, but I'm afraid it has.

I apologize if I made this too much about myself, but these are things I am constantly thinking about.

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7798

Noha307 I really like and appreciate your threads. Really great stuff and great research. Don't worry about a thing. WIX needs more members like you.
If you need anything from my collected stuff overs the years just reach out. (PM)

Keep up the great work.

M

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7798

Here's a nice view of a P-80's wing tip tanks.

quemerford · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:19 pm **Posts:** 1572

Noha307 wrote:

quemerford wrote:

Yet another "can you do my leg-work for me?" post that you won't get any thanks or response for.
I'm actually glad the subject was brought up because I hadn't thought of it and can add it to the aircraft design firsts thread[/url].

I don't always mind looking up the information. I just kind of wish that people would provide sources sometimes. I'm hesitant to ask for them because it makes it sound like I'm questioning someone's integrity when that's not the point. Among many reasons, sources are so often great for learning more about subject and I enjoy checking them out myself. It can also make finding similar information easier.

I would appreciate responses, but it's only because I'm always worried that I'm bothering people by spamming WIX by bumping up the same bunch of threads that people may find mundane boring or are not always directly related to warbirds. So, I would just like to make sure that this is not the case. I hope that the strict formatting I've used hasn't scared people off from commenting, but I'm afraid it has.

I apologize if I made this too much about myself, but these are things I am constantly thinking about.

No criticism of you whatsoever Noha307: your response and "Design Firsts" thread are both examples of what makes WIX such a great site to be part of (and Mark's photos too by the way). However there are serial posters here who use the thread as a way of getting us to scurry off and delve into archives instead of doing it themselves. We do it gratis while they (please correct me if I'm wrong) earn money from our inputs. It just doesn't seem right and in most/all cases there's not even a "thankyou" for folks who've responded.

Stephan Wilkinson · **Joined:** Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:23 am **Posts:** 699

Quote:

Yet another "can you do my leg-work for me?" post that you won't get any thanks or response for.

Has it ever occurred to you that one easy response to the question, "Can you do my legwork for me?" is "No"?

quemerford · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:19 pm **Posts:** 1572

Stephan Wilkinson wrote:

Quote:

Yet another "can you do my leg-work for me?" post that you won't get any thanks or response for.

Has it ever occurred to you that one easy response to the question, "Can you do my legwork for me?" is "No"?

Or you could leech off people's goodwill...

Stephan Wilkinson · **Joined:** Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:23 am **Posts:** 699

What a stupid thing to say. There are many people on this forum who enjoy responding to queries, and I think many people here know that I am an aviation writer and that I frequently look for information on this forum for use in articles that I am writing. And as I said above, anybody who feels I am "leeching" is quite free to keep their knowledge to themselves.

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Did Lockheed invent tip tanks?

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