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06-05-2007, 03:37 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
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Fuel in high wing...
Or just be sure that the wing with the fuel is up! Could starve and quit if it were the low wing and the slip would definitely have the fuel away from the pickup tube
Pierre
__________________
Pierre Smith
RV-10, 510 TT
RV6A (Sojourner) 180 HP, Catto 3 Bl (502Hrs), gone...and already missed
Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
EAA Flight Advisor/CFI/Tech Counselor
Louisville, Ga
It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
Patrick Kenny, EAA 275132
Dues gladly paid!
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06-05-2007, 04:35 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Gold Hill, NC25
Posts: 2,400
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Depends on your bird and mission and your experience.
Flying 4's, I have run many a tank dry cause they have short legs.
On my 8, even with 60 gallons, I run tanks dry all the time. Not a big deal when YOU KNOW YOUR PLANE. I know my range, I know my gages, I know my FF, and as long as everything is agreeing, tank gets run dry and I know exactly when the fan will stop. It is routine for me to take off with 5 gallons in one tank to fly 15 miles to get cheap fuel. Living at an airport with obscene fuel costs sends me flying to get cheap fuel all the time.
After you run a tank dry a dozen times, its no big deal.
Knowing exactly when your tank empties significantly extends the utility of the plane. Always have an out.
I also have on my engine monitor with gps input that tells me fuel data at destination which is an invaluable piece of information. My math airborn is not that good, but the computer is pretty smart. Worst case is airport is closed and I have to divert and land at a nearby airport with only a couple gallons. Twice in my life I have landed, there was no fuel, and I decided to hitch a ride to town for avgas cause I was too low to take off again. Such as life.
Both those times my wife was with me which significantly impacts my launch decision. Both those times I would have launched if I was solo.
__________________
Kahuna
6A, S8 ,
Gold Hill, NC25
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06-05-2007, 05:13 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Sonoma County
Posts: 3,821
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6oz. remaining
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Originally Posted by RV8Squaz
Mark,
Yes, I do have fuel injection, a 200 hp IO-360A1A. On the right with a standard pickup tube I got 7 oz. On the left with a flop tube I got 13oz. I have a lot of confidence in my fuel system, but I also still rely on my watch.
Jerry
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I ran mine dry (one at a time) over the airport and had 6oz. left in each tank. As you watch the fuel pressure drop, the motor shut off without a sputter, I switched the fuel selector and DID NOT turn on the electric fuel pump. I started counting and at the count of THREE, the engine fired right up where it left off.... It sure was nice to know this...
Warren
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06-05-2007, 05:18 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 1,587
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What about the Reg's?
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Originally Posted by Kahuna
It is routine for me to take off with 5 gallons in one tank to fly 15 miles to get cheap fuel. ...
... Worst case is airport is closed and I have to divert and land at a nearby airport with only a couple gallons. Twice in my life I have landed, there was no fuel, and I decided to hitch a ride to town for avgas cause I was too low to take off again. ...
.. Both those times I would have launched if I was solo.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Aviation Regulation
Sec. 91.151
Part 91 GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES Subpart B--Flight Rules Visual Flight Rules
Sec. 91.151
Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions.
(a) No person may begin a flight in an airplane under VFR conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and, assuming normal cruising speed--
(1) During the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or
(2) At night, to fly after that for at least 45 minutes.
...
__________________
H. Evan's RV-7A N17HH 240+ hours
"We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly!" -J.L. Seagull
Paid $25.00 "dues" net of PayPal cost for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (December).
This airplane is for sale: see website. my website
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06-05-2007, 06:15 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Canby, Oregon
Posts: 1,786
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I did it twice during test phase.
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Originally Posted by pierre smith
How many of you guys have run the airplane dry or very close to it on one tank? Do these airplanes feed just about all of the gas? I've run my -6A down to 3 or 4 gallons in the wings and it never sputtered but I've often wondered.
In the AT-6, I used to alternate from one tank to another every half hour and when the one side ran dry, I'd know how much time remains in the other side. Do any of you guys do this with your RV's?
Thanks,
Pierre
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Once on each tank, just so that I could get an accurate usable quantity for each tank. I measured 18.2 and 18.3 gal to when they quit in cruse flight. Both time the other tank was almost full and I was at altitude over some airports.
I had never done this before while flying spam cans, so it was kind of exciting for about 5 seconds. When it started sputtering I just flipped the selector and reached over and flipped on the fuel pump. By the time the fuel pump starts up the engine is running smooth.
The last time that I ran it dry, I was trying to run it low with the intent of draining the last couple of gal out in the hangar. I was only at about 1500 ft agl heading back to the airport (10 miles away) and it started sputtering when I didn't expect it.
I quickly selected my other tank and turned the fuel pump on, but this time the sputtering continued for along time (10 seconds maybe). I was busy looking for the best off airport field when it finally smoothed out.  I checked the altitude and had not lost any the speed was down maybe 5 knots and during the sputtering the rpm may have gone down 200.
I don't think that running the fuel out of one tank while flying is a big deal, if your are expecting and ready for it. As Dan said I would never do it with TWOB (the wife on board).
I think that my extended range strategy would be to use 4 gal from each tank. The last switch would leave 2 gal in the first tank and then I would land before I used more then 2 gal out of the second tank. I would be landing with 4 gal in second tank and 2 in the first tank.
Kent
__________________
Kent Byerley
RV9A N94KJ - IO320, CS, tipup
AFS 3500, TT AP, FLYING....
Canby, Or
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06-05-2007, 08:34 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,275
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Empty tanks
I have run tanks dry on purpose about six times...twice with others flying so they could experience it. The first time I was circling a little used runway and as the fuel got closer and closer to empty the radius of my circle got smaller and smaller. To this day I don't understand the aerodynamics of that process.
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06-06-2007, 06:44 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Pagosa Springs, CO
Posts: 130
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by RV8Squaz
I know there are a lot of reasons for and against adding aux or long range tanks to the RV's. This is simply another data point for those considering or on the fence about adding them:
I have the standard fuel tanks in the RV-8, 42 gals total. I just got back from San Antonio. I flew non-stop from San Antonio TX to Valdosta GA (804 nm) in 4.1 hrs including an extensive re-route south of the Houston class B. I was flying at 11,000' , 173 KTAS, and winds were from the west at 20 kts for the first half and 35 kts for the second half. My power was set at full throttle (or about 20" MP) and 2550 rpm. Fuel flow was 8.2 gph and ground speeds were anywhere fom 193 kts to 210 kts. I landed with 6 gals. or about 40 mins. of reserve.
I hope this helps anyone considering adding more fuel to the RVs.
Jerry
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Yah, good thing you were going east, or you would be taking your wings apart 
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06-06-2007, 01:48 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Senoia, Georgia
Posts: 802
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Nuisance
Yah, good thing you were going east, or you would be taking your wings apart 
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Yeah, I know I wouldn't have gotten as far but my butt doesn't know the difference. After 4 hrs my butt was more than ready to get out of the plane! :-)
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06-06-2007, 05:34 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ...
Posts: 2,049
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by RV8Squaz
Yeah, I know I wouldn't have gotten as far but my butt doesn't know the difference. After 4 hrs my butt was more than ready to get out of the plane! :-)
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High quality seat cushions sure go a long way to extending your virtual range. The only reason I get out of the plane on long trips these days is to top off. If I didn't have to stop for fuel I wouldn't stop. Got O2, got piddle packs (or Gatorade bottles), and good seat cushions (Classic Aero). Comfy.
__________________
Dan Checkoway RV-7
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06-06-2007, 09:20 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Senoia, Georgia
Posts: 802
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by dan
High quality seat cushions sure go a long way to extending your virtual range. The only reason I get out of the plane on long trips these days is to top off. If I didn't have to stop for fuel I wouldn't stop. Got O2, got piddle packs (or Gatorade bottles), and good seat cushions (Classic Aero). Comfy.
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Nope my seat cushion is very comfy. Many people have given me positive feedback on it and the lumbar. The fact is I have a 2, maybe 2 1/2 hr butt. The 4 hrs was 1 1/2 hrs past my butt limit. Besides getting out more frequently allows me to explore new airports and meet some more friendly airport people.
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