---------------------------------------------------------- Pietenpol-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Thu 02/26/15: 20 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 12:28 AM - Re: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel (Peter Johnson) 2. 04:51 AM - Re: Four-bladed prop (womenfly2) 3. 05:37 AM - Re: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel (Steven Dortch) 4. 05:48 AM - Re: Re: Four-bladed prop (Steven Dortch) 5. 06:40 AM - Re: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel (Gary Boothe) 6. 06:46 AM - Re: nose tank---gravity fed (Charles N. Campbell) 7. 06:53 AM - Re: Four-bladed prop (Dan Yocum) 8. 07:01 AM - Re: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel (Charles N. Campbell) 9. 07:18 AM - Re: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel (Steven Dortch) 10. 08:04 AM - Re: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel (Steven Dortch) 11. 10:03 AM - small dogs, storage space, and tents (Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-LME0)[Vantage Partners, LLC]) 12. 10:34 AM - Re: small dogs, storage space, and tents (Jack Philips) 13. 11:19 AM - Toolstock officially underway. (tools) 14. 11:40 AM - Re: small dogs, storage space, and tents (Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-LME0)[Vantage Partners, LLC]) 15. 12:28 PM - Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel (Andy Garrett) 16. 03:47 PM - Re: Toolstock officially underway. (tonyp51qa) 17. 04:44 PM - EAA announces Long-Awaited Aeromedical Reform (Jeff Boatright) 18. 05:45 PM - Re: Toolstock officially underway. (tools) 19. 07:37 PM - Re: nose tank---gravity fed (CatDesigns) 20. 10:54 PM - Re: Toolstock officially underway. (tools) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 12:28:41 AM PST US Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel From: Peter Johnson Andy, Don=B9t forget to vent it so that the vent is higher than the centre section tank vent. I also reversed the direction of the header tank vent so that the pressure inside the header tank was less that the head of the main tank. I originall y had the vent facing forward and the pressure generated didn=B9t allow fuel to flow from the main tank into the header tank. A bit disconcerting=8A. This how I did mine. http://www.cpc-world.com/images/fuel%20system.jpg Cheers Peter Wonthaggi Australia http://www.cpc-world.com From: CLIF DAWSON Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel Really large bump in the fuel line. :-) Clif To be clear..., a 'header tank' is just a smaller tank in the nose which is fed by the wing tank. Yes? -------- Andy Garrett 'General Purpose Creative Dude' Haysville, Kansas ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 04:51:03 AM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Four-bladed prop From: "womenfly2" Its all about the math. Prop design is about Engine HP, torque, RPM, speed, etc. The reason multiple blades are use is not for noise but for turning the HP into thrust. Noise reduction has to do with blade design profiles. Anyway have fun .... your 4-blade prop will need to be thin and small in diameter to get the thrust you need, but you will find that out as you experiment. Based on my Model-A engines HP and other known facts, my propeller calculations for the 2nd prop I carved was this one. Its the one we flew with. Here is some in site: Simplified propeller design for low-powered airplanes https://archive.org/stream/nasa_techdoc_19930080999/19930080999#page/n3/mode/2up Cheers ... I will be quite now. WF2 -------- Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=438759#438759 Attachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/m_01fb956990cac72515cb0ce22f9790dd3a4fd39ba5_193.jpg http://forums.matronics.com//files/m_01afcc644ff0cd3005372b950f259aabde769c000e_172.jpg ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 05:37:47 AM PST US Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel From: Steven Dortch Yes, A header tank is a tank behind the engine/in front of the front instrument panel that is fed by the wing tank. However, for lack of a better term, people (including me) often call all tanks behind the engine/in front of the front instrument panel, a header tank. Mine is not a header tank. I have a wing tank and a tank in front of the front instrument panel/behind the engine that feed separately. I have a fuel tank lever that has two off positions and one Wing tank position and one "header" tank position. True confessions. We put the lever on the valve so long ago that I can't remember if the handle points to the tank or the little pointer on the knob points to the correct tank. I guess I will figure that out during the fuel flow tests. Blue Skies, Steve D ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 05:48:04 AM PST US Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Four-bladed prop From: Steven Dortch The Show "How it is made" on the discovery channel has a section about "how propellers are made." It is really good and shows Tennessee Propellers Inc. making a wood prop. Worth watching. Blue Skies, Steve D. On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 6:50 AM, womenfly2 wrote: > > Its all about the math. Prop design is about Engine HP, torque, RPM, > speed, etc. > > The reason multiple blades are use is not for noise but for turning the HP > into thrust. Noise reduction has to do with blade design profiles. > > Anyway have fun .... your 4-blade prop will need to be thin and small in > diameter to get the thrust you need, but you will find that out as you > experiment. > > Based on my Model-A engines HP and other known facts, my propeller > calculations for the 2nd prop I carved was this one. Its the one we flew > with. > > Here is some in site: Simplified propeller design for low-powered airplanes > > https://archive.org/stream/nasa_techdoc_19930080999/19930080999#page/n3/mode/2up > > > Cheers ... I will be quite now. > WF2 > > -------- > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=438759#438759 > > > Attachments: > > > http://forums.matronics.com//files/m_01fb956990cac72515cb0ce22f9790dd3a4fd39ba5_193.jpg > > http://forums.matronics.com//files/m_01afcc644ff0cd3005372b950f259aabde769c000e_172.jpg > > -- Blue Skies, Steve D ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 06:40:34 AM PST US From: "Gary Boothe" Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel =9CTrue confessions. We put the lever on the valve so long ago that I can't remember if the handle points to the tank or the little pointer on the knob points to the correct tank.=9D Sorry to pick on this statement, Steve, but I couldn=99t help thinking about the inexperienced, or rusty pilot (like me), flying his new Pietenpol for the first time, and having to worry about fuel management. What happens the first time that engine coughs on takeoff? It=99s just my opinion, but, whether a builder designs and builds a beautiful 15 gallon nose tank, like Mark=99s, or a 16 gallon center section tank like mine, the Pietenpol does not need any more fueland definitely not multiple tanks. In other words, one large tank is better than two smaller onesagain, just my opinion. Gary Boothe NX308MB From: owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Steven Dortch Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 5:37 AM Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel Yes, A header tank is a tank behind the engine/in front of the front instrument panel that is fed by the wing tank. However, for lack of a better term, people (including me) often call all tanks behind the engine/in front of the front instrument panel, a header tank. Mine is not a header tank. I have a wing tank and a tank in front of the front instrument panel/behind the engine that feed separately. I have a fuel tank lever that has two off positions and one Wing tank position and one "header" tank position. True confessions. We put the lever on the valve so long ago that I can't remember if the handle points to the tank or the little pointer on the knob points to the correct tank. I guess I will figure that out during the fuel flow tests. Blue Skies, Steve D ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 06:46:46 AM PST US Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: nose tank---gravity fed From: "Charles N. Campbell" Mike, one more question -- two really. 1.) What thickness aluminum did you use for the tank? and 2) Did you weld it or rivet it with sealer in the joints? I was just wondering if it would be practical to even consider riveting. If I rivet, I'll get the rivets and rivet puller from Zenith. I like the way their rivets look after installing. Your buddy flew the BIG ones. I was a fighter pilot in the Navy, flying off the USS Hancock, CV-19. I got about 75 carrier landings in the F6F Hellcat. Thanks for the information. Chuck On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 11:22 AM, Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-LME0)[Vantage Partners, LLC] wrote: > Andy, > > > Yes, my A-65 is all gravity fed with no need for a fuel pump. > > > I highly suggest to follow the gravity fuel flow test that Tony Bingelis > outlines in his homebuilder book series because that way > > you know exactly how much useable and unusable fuel you have in your tank .. > > > For a full-power, nose high (takeoff climb attitude) for my engine I can > safely operate (according to the calculations I gleaned from Tony =99s books > and test suggestions) > > down to 1.3 gallons remaining of my 17 gallon capacity. I never cut my > fuel this low but at least I know when the fuel flow rate becomes > insufficient to keep the carb > > fed. > > > I basically built my plane with a phone, a credit card, and the Tony > Bingelis books. The Bingelis books are worth their weight in gold for a ny > homebuider---a bit dated but > > airworthiness never gets out of date really. > > > And Chuck Campbell, I=99m sorry but I don=99t have dimension s for my fuel > tank but basically I followed the shape of my front cockpit instrument > panel radius (though I raised > > my instrument panels 1=9D higher than plans.) and then made the bot tom of it > slope forward at about the same angle and a little above as the front sea t > passenger=99s legs > > would be positioned. > > ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 06:53:50 AM PST US From: Dan Yocum Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Four-bladed prop On 02/23/2015 10:22 AM, Dave Abramson wrote: > VERY COOL DAN!!!!!! Actually, I think it's VERY COLD in TN, today. Dan - If you forgot your snow shovel up here, you can always use your new prop to dig out... :-D Dan -- Dan Yocum yocum137@gmail.com ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 07:01:05 AM PST US Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel From: "Charles N. Campbell" Why not just have a fuel indicator in the "header" tank. That way it would always read "Full" until the "main tank" runs dry and the header starts feeding the engine without the fuel being replaced from the main tank. C On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 12:41 AM, taildrags wrote: > > Andy; > > My answer to your question about a header tank is just my answer-"yes", > but to elaborate, I consider a header tank to be one that doesn't have its > own filler cap and so it is filled from the main tank by the pilot's > manipulation of valves. If I could possibly stretch an aviation regulation > that says there must be a quantity indicator for each fuel tank, I would > further stretch things by saying that header tanks don't usually have > quantity indicators. You have a fuel gauge for the main tank, but once it > feeds into the header tank you don't typically have a readout of what's in > that tank. Anyone else care to comment? > > -------- > Oscar Zuniga > Medford, OR > Air Camper NX41CC "Scout" > A75 power > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=438753#438753 > > ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 07:18:22 AM PST US Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel From: Steven Dortch If you have used all fuel from your main tank and lets say half from your header tank, when you refuel you may have to pause to allow the fuel from the main to flow to the header through the connecting hose before filling the main tank. Blue Skies, Steve D. On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 11:41 PM, taildrags wrote: > > Andy; > > My answer to your question about a header tank is just my answer-"yes", > but to elaborate, I consider a header tank to be one that doesn't have its > own filler cap and so it is filled from the main tank by the pilot's > manipulation of valves. If I could possibly stretch an aviation regulation > that says there must be a quantity indicator for each fuel tank, I would > further stretch things by saying that header tanks don't usually have > quantity indicators. You have a fuel gauge for the main tank, but once it > feeds into the header tank you don't typically have a readout of what's in > that tank. Anyone else care to comment? > > -------- > Oscar Zuniga > Medford, OR > Air Camper NX41CC "Scout" > A75 power > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=438753#438753 > > -- Blue Skies, Steve D ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 08:04:00 AM PST US Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel From: Steven Dortch Gary, My point was that I don't remember which way it was put on. It is my intent to make it like the tank selector in my Bonanza. the little red arrow will point to the tank not the handle But I don't know which way the "knob" was installed, So I will have to check. The Red arrow should be obvious. Each detent will be marked with a sticker. "Off, Off, "Wing tank" and "Front tank." I bought a really nice new interior for my Vtail out of a salvaged plane. The new owner got in an argument with his mechanic and took off without the tank markers in place. He ran his left wing tank out of fuel and could not figure out where the detents were. He landed in a corn field, gear up, totaled the plane. I am very conscious of fuel management. OT In my Vtail Bonanza you manage a fuel system 3 tank system that pumps 14 gallons per hour to the pressure carb (like a Throttle Body Injector) which burns about 9.5 GPH in cruse. The remaining 3.5 gallons are returned to the left wing tank. (So you must burn fuel from the left tank first to make room for this fuel return, otherwise it pumps fuel overboard.) In flight I burn almost all of the fuel out of my left tank, 18 gallons useable, I switch at 1 hour and 45 min, then I go to my Aux tank (behind the rear seat in the baggage compartment), until it is close to empty, 20 gallons useable, about 1 hour 40 min. Which has returned 5+ gallons to the left wing tank. (Please note, I plan 3 hour trips as a rule, at 3 hours someone has to get out and pee and the pilot needs a break. 3 hours is about 450 miles plus.) Then I burn fuel out of the right wing tank (18 gallons useable about 1 hour and 40 min), which returns another 5+ gallons to the left tank. At that point I should be about 700 miles down the road and be landing on the left tank with over an hour of reserve fuel in the left tank. It is perfectly safe to run each tank until it is totally empty and the engine starts to die, the engine starts up when the tank is switched, but that really stresses passengers and I don't like the VERY LOUD SILENCE!. So I have timed the tanks and switch just a little early (within 5 min.) Some V-tails have 5 tanks (two mains, two tip tanks and an Aux tank. and a few have up to 7 tanks with two more outboard wing tanks. for all of these tanks the extra fuel is returned to the left tank! Some tip systems go directly to the engine and some feed a wing tank, but you must make room for that fuel or it will be pumped overboard, some have fuel pumps themselves. Yes, there is a larger fuel management issue that has caused pilots to crash due to fuel starvation with fuel in tanks. Y'all be careful now. Steve D On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 8:40 AM, Gary Boothe wrote: > =9CTrue confessions. We put the lever on the valve so long ago that I can't > remember if the handle points to the tank or the little pointer on the kn ob > points to the correct tank.=9D > > > Sorry to pick on this statement, Steve, but I couldn=99t help think ing about > the inexperienced, or rusty pilot (like me), flying his new Pietenpol for > the first time, and having to worry about fuel management. > > > What happens the first time that engine coughs on takeoff? > > > It=99s just my opinion, but, whether a builder designs and builds a > beautiful 15 gallon nose tank, like Mark=99s, or a 16 gallon center section > tank like mine, the Pietenpol does not need any more fueland def initely > not multiple tanks. In other words, one large tank is better than two > smaller onesagain, just my opinion. > > > Gary Boothe > > NX308MB > > > *From:* owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com [mailto: > owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com] *On Behalf Of *Steven Dortch > *Sent:* Thursday, February 26, 2015 5:37 AM > *To:* pietenpol-list@matronics.com > *Subject:* Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel > > > Yes, A header tank is a tank behind the engine/in front of the front > instrument panel that is fed by the wing tank. > > > However, for lack of a better term, people (including me) often call all > tanks behind the engine/in front of the front instrument panel, a header > tank. > > > Mine is not a header tank. I have a wing tank and a tank in front of the > front instrument panel/behind the engine that feed separately. I have a > fuel tank lever that has two off positions and one Wing tank position and > one "header" tank position. > > > True confessions. We put the lever on the valve so long ago that I can't > remember if the handle points to the tank or the little pointer on the kn ob > points to the correct tank. I guess I will figure that out during the fue l > flow tests. > > > Blue Skies, > > Steve D > > > *http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Pietenpol-List * > > *http://forums.matronics.com * > > *http://www.matronics.com/contribution * > > > * > =========== .matronics.com/Navigator?Pietenpol-List> =========== =========== om/contribution> =========== > > * > > -- Blue Skies, Steve D ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 10:03:28 AM PST US From: "Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-LME0)[Vantage Partners, LLC]" Subject: Pietenpol-List: small dogs, storage space, and tents My good friend and Pietenpol builder/owner/operator Jack Phillips wrote: 2) I have a very nice baggage compartment big enough to hold a tent, a slee ping bag, an airmattress and a small duffle bag, in addition to the chocks and tie downs I always carry. I don't see how you can carry much of a tent in the centersection, since it's only about 5" tall at the most. I've seen the tent Mike Cuy uses. My dog wouldn't fit in it. And it's a very small dog. I hate to be a stickler for the accuracy but in this case I'll make an exce ption. Jack doesn't actually carry his tent on his trips to Brodhead in th e Pietenpol but has it delivered to him by a good friend who holds it at a secret location somewhere in Wisconsin during the rest of the year. Here's my tent (that Jack's dog wouldn't fit into) that I use when going c ross country in my Piet. This photo happens to be from Lee Bottom Flying F ield in Hanover, Indiana in 2008. Not only does my tent fit in my center section baggage compartment but my a ir mattress fits up there too with lots of room for other things as well. I do admit that I have to sleep diagonally in this tent to be comfortable b ut it works and it is lightweight. Mike C. Ohio [cid:image001.png@01D051C4.8561BF80] [cid:image002.jpg@01D051C4.8561BF80] ________________________________ Message 12 ____________________________________ Time: 10:34:03 AM PST US From: "Jack Philips" Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: small dogs, storage space, and tents Ah, but Mike I have carried the tent with me in the Pietenpol. You will recall in 2005 when I first flew mine to Brodhead, with a stop in Cleveland along the way. That year I did carry everything with me. Here's a picture of my baggage compartment while under construction, showing my sleeping bag and tent in place. You can see there's quite a bit of room left for other stuff. Here's the baggage compartment with the cowling and baggage door in place: Jack Phillips NX899JP Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia From: owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-LME0)[Vantage Partners, LLC] Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 1:03 PM Subject: Pietenpol-List: small dogs, storage space, and tents My good friend and Pietenpol builder/owner/operator Jack Phillips wrote: 2) I have a very nice baggage compartment big enough to hold a tent, a sleeping bag, an airmattress and a small duffle bag, in addition to the chocks and tie downs I always carry. I don't see how you can carry much of a tent in the centersection, since it's only about 5" tall at the most. I've seen the tent Mike Cuy uses. My dog wouldn't fit in it. And it's a very small dog. I hate to be a stickler for the accuracy but in this case I'll make an exception. Jack doesn't actually carry his tent on his trips to Brodhead in the Pietenpol but has it delivered to him by a good friend who holds it at a secret location somewhere in Wisconsin during the rest of the year. Here's my tent (that Jack's dog wouldn't fit into) that I use when going cross country in my Piet. This photo happens to be from Lee Bottom Flying Field in Hanover, Indiana in 2008. Not only does my tent fit in my center section baggage compartment but my air mattress fits up there too with lots of room for other things as well. I do admit that I have to sleep diagonally in this tent to be comfortable but it works and it is lightweight. Mike C. Ohio ________________________________ Message 13 ____________________________________ Time: 11:19:23 AM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Toolstock officially underway. From: "tools" Scott and I each got a couple landings this morning in the yard... Complete with six inches of snow! Videos later. Hope to get some more flying in on Saturday. Got confirmation we will be having our first ever fly in guest coming Saturday. Gardener got in about an hour ago. Unfortunately had half a dozen guys stuck last night due to road closures, but all made it in this morning alright. Already made our first part, to get Scott's broke truck out of the way to start restoring a jointer for a guy who lost everything in a fire, tools he used to make a living. Will be pouring babbit nuts for the table adjusting mechanisms. Tons of great beer and food showing up. Anyone on the fence should hop off and head over! Tools Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=438780#438780 ________________________________ Message 14 ____________________________________ Time: 11:40:34 AM PST US From: "Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-LME0)[Vantage Partners, LLC]" Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: small dogs, storage space, and tents You know I thought you carried your tent up there at least one time so that makes perfect sense! You have more room up there in the nose baggage section than I knew. I do recall shipping my suitcase to Wisconsin in 2009 when we did both Brod head AND the 75th Anniversary of the Pietenpol at Oshkosh because I had so much stuff that year and then mailed my baggage home from the University of WI, Oshkosh before flying home. [cid:image003.jpg@01D051D2.093BA430][cid:image004.jpg@01D051D2.093BA430] ________________________________ Message 15 ____________________________________ Time: 12:28:22 PM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Andy-- storage space and fuel From: "Andy Garrett" I'm not a fan of fuel mangement procedures. The work load in any cockpit is high enough. That's one of the reasons I like highwings in general. When I bought my Airbike, that was one of the first mods I made. Previous owner had it set up for either/or on the wing tanks. That just didn't make sense to me. Whatever method I employ will be hands off in flight, and there will be no way to starve the engine as long as there is fuel in the tank(s). As a basic philosophy, I want engineer the ship to minimize the oportunities for pilot errors to create hazards. -------- Andy Garrett 'General Purpose Creative Dude' Haysville, Kansas Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=438783#438783 ________________________________ Message 16 ____________________________________ Time: 03:47:51 PM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Toolstock officially underway. From: "tonyp51qa" Hi whats on the agenda for Saturday? I will be attending my first TOOL STOCK on Saturday. I'm going to start on my Piet very soon.Anything you need me to bring? Tony 480-748-3470 -------- Tony Crawford Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=438787#438787 ________________________________ Message 17 ____________________________________ Time: 04:44:30 PM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: EAA announces Long-Awaited Aeromedical Reform From: "Jeff Boatright" Bipartisan bill in Senate, EAA asks that we try to get all delegates in Senate and House to sign on to bills in both houses: http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/2015-news/02-26-2015-second-pilots-bill-of-rights-pushes-long-awaited-aeromedical-reform-forward And here's the link to the Rally Congress initiative. I did it; very easy. http://govt.eaa.org Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=438788#438788 ________________________________ Message 18 ____________________________________ Time: 05:45:39 PM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Toolstock officially underway. From: "tools" BEER! Having a great time, looking forward to meeting ya. Tools Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=438790#438790 ________________________________ Message 19 ____________________________________ Time: 07:37:24 PM PST US From: "CatDesigns" Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: nose tank---gravity fed Chuck Have you seen the RV-12=99s 20 gal tank? Chris Sacramento, CA WestcoastPiet.com From: owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Charles N. Campbell Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 6:46 AM Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: nose tank---gravity fed Mike, one more question -- two really. 1.) What thickness aluminum did you use for the tank? and 2) Did you weld it or rivet it with sealer in the joints? I was just wondering if it would be practical to even consider riveting. If I rivet, I'll get the rivets and rivet puller from Zenith. I like the way their rivets look after installing. Your buddy flew the BIG ones. I was a fighter pilot in the Navy, flying off the USS Hancock, CV-19. I got about 75 carrier landings in the F6F Hellcat. Thanks for the information. Chuck On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 11:22 AM, Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-LME0)[Vantage Partners, LLC] > wrote: Andy, Yes, my A-65 is all gravity fed with no need for a fuel pump. I highly suggest to follow the gravity fuel flow test that Tony Bingelis outlines in his homebuilder book series because that way you know exactly how much useable and unusable fuel you have in your tank. For a full-power, nose high (takeoff climb attitude) for my engine I can safely operate (according to the calculations I gleaned from Tony=99s books and test suggestions) down to 1.3 gallons remaining of my 17 gallon capacity. I never cut my fuel this low but at least I know when the fuel flow rate becomes insufficient to keep the carb fed. I basically built my plane with a phone, a credit card, and the Tony Bingelis books. The Bingelis books are worth their weight in gold for any homebuider---a bit dated but airworthiness never gets out of date really. And Chuck Campbell, I=99m sorry but I don=99t have dimensions for my fuel tank but basically I followed the shape of my front cockpit instrument panel radius (though I raised my instrument panels 1=9D higher than plans.) and then made the bottom of it slope forward at about the same angle and a little above as the front seat passenger=99s legs would be positioned. ________________________________ Message 20 ____________________________________ Time: 10:54:42 PM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Toolstock officially underway. From: "tools" No pics... Didn't happen... http://youtu.be/WjM19j4PFWs http://youtu.be/FQpBW1VjdU4 http://youtu.be/j8qRXp6jXL4 Tools Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=438793#438793 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message pietenpol-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Pietenpol-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/pietenpol-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/pietenpol-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.