[hawkaw]

I thought fuel was stored in the wings and other places of large planes .....

[steveegg]

I thought fuel was stored in the wings and other places of large planes .....

Fighters routinely carry jettisonable under-wing tanks and centerline tanks.

[Rummyfan]

Many military aircraft, at least of the Attack and Fighter variety, carry external tanks to increase their range. Don't know of any commercial aircraft with this need or capability.

[joedelta]

I thought fuel was stored in the wings and other places of large planes .....

It is, but they have drop tanks that they use before they actually get into a fight.

[Syntyr]

They do. They sore fuel in the wings inside bladders called wet wings. Typically only military jets have "drop tanks." So called because they can be attached to extend the aircraft's range but when going in to combat they can be released or "dropped" from the aircraft so that it can resume it's top speed and turning potential.

[johnb838]

Fighters can be configured with drop tanks.

[expatpat]

Wing-tip tanks for fighters -- can be dumped if necessaary.