“But having been around them yes it is normal procedure to drop the tanks when entering combat.”
No, it is not. You drop them only if you need to do so. Otherwise you bring them back and reuse them.
Mr. Rogers,
No, it is not. You drop them only if you need to do so. Otherwise you bring them back and reuse them.
My apologies I was generalizing in my statements. Yes absolutely if you don’t have too you don’t drop them. Bring them back and reuse them. You are correct. I should have been more detailed and said:
As a pilot if you get into a combat situation that dictates the need to streamline the airframe then yes it is normal to drop the tanks. It is not normal procedure to say okay they are dry so I drop them. Hence the word combat in my comment.