---------------------------------------------------------- KIS-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sun 11/15/09: 1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 08:54 PM - Long Range Fuel Tanks (Galin Hernandez) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 08:54:34 PM PST US From: Galin Hernandez Subject: KIS-List: 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message kis-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/KIS-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/kis-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/kis-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.