Forum: F-16 Procedures

Hi! Would like to know during flight or on ground engine run, will both left & right CFT empty together or the left CFT empty faster than the right CFT on a D model due to the forward right (FR) fuel capacity are smaller than the aft left (AL) fuel capacity?

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The different capacities of the forward/right and aft/left tank arrangements have no bearing on the quantity of fuel transferred from the CFT's. The intent of the fuel system design was to use equal amounts of fuel from the F/R and A/L tank arrangements with the engine feed switch in normal. That also means the intent was that equal amounts of fuel should come from each CFT as fuel is used.

Another question comes to mind, where does CFT fuel usage fall in the normal burn sequence (externals, then wing, then fuselage)?

Transfer from the CFTs is either first (before fuel from the externals) or immediately after external tank fuel, based on pilot selection.

CFTs for all intent is considered an internal fuel tank.

The fuel from the CFTs are drained into the main fuel tanks so it doesn't matter which tank is bigger or smaller

The selection of fuel usage is external or internal .. so you select CFT/wing or EXT ..
which is not recommended because of the possibility of fuel being unusable (trapped) in the external tanks .. its not funny when you have 8000lbs of fuel and only 2000 is useable internally ..

CFTs are an extension of wing fuel. CFT fuel drains into the wings keeping the internal wing tanks full.
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Forum: F-16 Procedures

CFT fuel transfer system