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1. 08:54 PM - Long Range Fuel Tanks (Galin Hernandez)
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| Subject: | Long Range Fuel Tanks |
All;
After a LOT of work, we finally finished increasing the fuel capacity of my
airplane. We (read mostly Rich) sealed up a bay just behind the existing
fuel tank and created a cross flow from this bay to the existing
one. Between the two bays we put a cross flow section and a fuel vent so the
new fuel bay empties into the existing one via the cross flow eliminating
having to complicate the existing fuel system. The cross flow section has an
equivalent size of a 2" hole so plenty of fuel can cross over. It also has a
fuel drain since water can possibly pool here. With this setup, I now have
46Gallons of useable fuel in each wing for a total of 92Gallons of fuel. I
also added a metal tab which indicates approximately 30Gallons when the fuel
reaches it. The max gross weight stays the same so I have a reduced payload
with full fuel. It also slightly changed the fuel tank's center of gravity
from 43 to 48". However even under all possible combinations of fuel
loading, you can't get the CG out of limits.
It didn't go without a fight. The right wing went off without a hitch. We
(once again read Rich) had a LOT of problems properly sealing the left wing
tank. We had to open and seal the bay twice. Even then, it leaked and wound
up having to dissasemble the wing twice before it was completely sealed.
With the 92Gallons of useable fuel, I now have 11.5hrs of endurance which
translates to almost 1500NM range if burning 8GPH at max range speed of
130Kts. I am now limited by bladder capacity, not airplane fuel capacity.
While flying around Central America I have arrived at airports that were
supposed to have fuel but didn't. Now if this happens I can continue on to
my next point instead of having to wait a few days for fuel to be delivered.
I also took advantage of the fact the tanks were empty to verify the
fuel meter indications and calibrate a "Universal FUELHAWK" fuel gauge
specifically for my tanks as I filled them for the 1st time. I now have
extended range as well as real good fuel management data.
I posted some pictures of the work on my webpage:
http://puertoricoflyer.com/cgi-bin/photoalbum/view_album/191461
Galin
N819PR
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