Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon —

Just wondering why the 2-seater is in the same formation ...

Usually, the F-16B is the advance pilot and show narrator ride. But it also serves as a spare. In this occasion, it has the number 4, so it`s one of the regular slot aircraft. What I wonder is why the centerline fuel tank is carried during the show?

Thanks for a great photo and useful comment.

If it was just a fly-by, no need to strip the center tank. I remember the Thunderbirds doing the same when I was a kid at an airshow in NJ circa 1987. I remember that because the announcer saying we have a special guest to the show. Someone yelled, I hope it's Ollie North! Then the Thunderbirds rolled in. God, am I really that old?

@Viv Pike
Hers some answers for ya.
https://www.quora.com/Why-do-some-Thunderbird-F-16s-have-two-seats-while-others-only-have-one-seat

Centerline tank is carried on two-seater F-16B / F-16D to match the internal fuel capacity of a single seater F-16A/F-16C. The second seat space in a F-16 B/D is an internal tank on F-16 A/C. Obviously this was just a fly-by not an airshow.