Holedigger wrote:
The cross marks the aircraft's Center of Gravity as it came from the factory...important for some aeronautical reason I hear! The fuel tank status did effect this greatly. Someone with more knowledge of this and how it was used please chime in.
It doesn't mark the CG.
Exact CG can only be determined by computing your load of fuel or weapons.
It also changes as you burn fuel or drop your bombs or fire your weapons.
The aircraft has a range of acceptable CG limits. The rear tank does affect how it handles and was typically burned off soon after takeoff or at least some of it depending on the pilots preference.
1st the TO was done on the L/H wing tank. The carb will return a small amount of fuel back to the L/H wing tank through the vapor vent return. The TO and climb uses enough fuel out of this tank to make space for the returned fuel. Otherwise it will just vent overboard through the L/H wing tank. After the fus tank is used then the drop tanks (if fitted) are usually used. If you have to drop them when you run into fighters any fuel they still contain drops too.
Finally the wing tanks are used and maybe a small amount left in the fus tank. Some pilots preferred to leave a little in it as they liked how it flew that way.
The cross mark was used to show the ground crews that there was a fus tank that was installed.
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