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Early Aviation
Discuss World War I and the early years of aviation thru 1934.
Hosted by Jim Starkweather
WNW Gotha fuel tank conundrum
afvmodellermag
_VISITCOMMUNITY
England - North East, United Kingdom
Joined: October 31, 2008
KitMaker: 23 posts
AeroScale: 20 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 05, 2011 - 12:53 AM UTC
Hello everyone,

Just puzzling over the location of the fuel tanks in the Gotha IV.
Some of my references refer to them being situated between the rear gunner and pilot where the internal bomb racks sit. This may be a feature unique to the Gotha V? If they are not fitted here - where do they go? Surely the underbelly tunnel prevents them going futher back in the fuselage and would surely unbalance the aircraft. The wingtop saddle tanks are described as additional/auxiliary tanks and are not big enough I would suggest?
regards David
JackFlash
_VISITCOMMUNITY
Colorado, United States
Joined: January 25, 2004
KitMaker: 11,669 posts
AeroScale: 11,011 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 05, 2011 - 03:44 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hello everyone,

Just puzzling over the location of the fuel tanks in the Gotha IV.
Some of my references refer to them being situated between the rear gunner and pilot where the internal bomb racks sit. This may be a feature unique to the Gotha V? If they are not fitted here - where do they go? Surely the underbelly tunnel prevents them going futher back in the fuselage and would surely unbalance the aircraft. The wingtop saddle tanks are described as additional/auxiliary tanks and are not big enough I would suggest?
regards David


The main fuel cells were under the engines for the Gotha G.IV. Hence the reason the engine covers reached the lower wing - upper surface. On the G.V the walk way between the cockpits was closed and the fuel cells moved to this area. It was an attempt to have the fuel away from the hot engines should there be a bad landing.

Here is a shot from member Andrew Beard's fine KotS build.
afvmodellermag
_VISITCOMMUNITY
England - North East, United Kingdom
Joined: October 31, 2008
KitMaker: 23 posts
AeroScale: 20 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 05, 2011 - 04:34 AM UTC
Many thanks for the explanation - that makes sense - the spec for the Gotha V made me wonder!

That concludes today's stupid question.

regards David
Kornbeef
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England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: November 06, 2005
KitMaker: 1,667 posts
AeroScale: 1,551 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 05, 2011 - 05:15 AM UTC
complete with a nugget of knowledge
JackFlash
_VISITCOMMUNITY
Colorado, United States
Joined: January 25, 2004
KitMaker: 11,669 posts
AeroScale: 11,011 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 05, 2011 - 05:41 AM UTC
The only stupid question is the one that doesn't get asked.
 _GOTOTOP