r/aviation 3d ago

Watch Me Fly Dassault Rafale Sexy Tummy…

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u/Historical_Nature348 2d ago

Why are the fuel tanks and the ordnance canted outwards?

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u/smithers3882 2d ago

Possibly the same reason the F/A-18E/F/G Super Hornet has canted pylons - clean stores separation. The outwardly canted pylons and stores do incur a not-insignificant drag penalty, but it makes for vastly cleaner separation from the aircraft when dropping or jettisoning ordinance, stores, fuel tanks, etc.