RV-10 Extra Fuel Tank

[thomasjorgensen]

Put the extra in the wings, either tips or built in. If in the tail was a good idea, plenty would be doing it.

Thats exactly what gets me. It is a good idea. What seems to be a bad idea is putting the fuel in the wings. They where never designed for that. Image what a hard landing with 120 gals of fuel in the wings that far outboard is going to do to your spar. Not to mention the unknown effect on flight characteristics (roll rates, stall, spin, etc.. Wouldn't the fuselage/baggage compartment tank be the only option not outside original design intentions?. Plus the whole point for me was that it would affect CG rearwards.

It scares me how willing people are to slap some extra tanks in the tips of an aircraft not necessarily designed for it because Everyone's doing it.

Now I do agree that in the event of an accident it probably is safer to have fuel out in the wings rather than on fire behind you.

The fact that it clutters up the tail section is a good point.

[ppilotmike]

Unless further study and perhaps additional engineering/strengthening of the wings. However, since everything is connected (engineering-wise) and the forces have to go somewhere (i.e. fuse, skin, etc.), this could potentially create quite a headache to track down every engineering problem that could rear its ugly head. Therefore, it seems wise to put the extra weight where Van intended it; inside the fuse or at least on the belly of the plane. This centers the load and places the stresses in an area that was designed to take those stresses. I hate to give up cabin space for an extra tank, and having the fuel in the cab with me is not so warm and fuzzy, but it's better than the wing spars breaking. It's great that we, as experimental builders, can do most anything we want with our airplanes. However, it's important that we weigh (andl locate ) the risks very carefully.

[RichB]

Is anyone with a -10 able to take and post (or PM) some quick measurements of the luggage space and maybe the rear seat spaces?

[AMac]

What seems to be a bad idea is putting the fuel in the wings. They where never designed for that. Image what a hard landing with 120 gals of fuel in the wings that far outboard is going to do to your spar

Ummmmm. Mine were designed by a Professional Qantas Engineer, not a LAME but an engineer.

And I don't intend any hard landings