I agree with you Jim. Back in the day they carried the same fuel load for the mission but also the weapons load. I agree the fuel load was large. Add many gallons of 50 wt oil for the engines and prop pitch control. Maybe 100 gallons per engine? Another ton for 10 men, 200lb , per man average wt. Maybe more for flack Jackets ,helmets and heated flight suits. Lets not forget the weight for maybe a 1k+ rnds for 50 cal rounds for the 13 M-2 machine guns on the G models.
I'm saying for the current tourist flights, no bombs, flack jackets, helmets and Flt suites, 50 cal rounds and probably partial fuel loads for the short flights, that bad boy will leap into the air compared to a combat loaded one.