Extended fuel for RV-9A

mansboat · #1 08-13-2007, 10:21 AM

I'm buying Scott's RV-9A next week and I'm starting to look for extended fuel options.
Anyone used the "Turtle-Pac"? It looks like a decent solution, but I'm trying to figure out where to put it without trashing my baggage weight limit.

Any other solutions for the 9A?

Mel · #2 08-13-2007, 10:28 AM

I have a -9A in my shop that has tip tanks similar to the old Jon Johanson tanks. They hold about 8 gallons each and were built by Charles Wilhite. Workmanship is great. No comment about time and trouble getting them done.

jcmcdowell · #3 08-13-2007, 11:24 AM

At cruise speeds of 185 mph- you can go a long way in 4 hours. I can only stand sitting still for about 3 max anyways.

Where would you go that you needed more than 4 hours flying with reserves and about 725 miles XC distance?

Andy Hill · #4 08-13-2007, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Any other solutions for the 9A?

Reading the aircraft designer's comments on altering the basic flutter characteristics of the wing would be a good start

mansboat · #5 08-13-2007, 12:41 PM

One of our frequent trips is KTOA in Torrance CA to KAPA in Centennial CO. It's much more convenient to do that flight non-stop, but it's close to 5 hours no-wind.

pierre smith · #6 08-13-2007, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcmcdowell

At cruise speeds of 185 mph- you can go a long way in 4 hours. I can only stand sitting still for about 3 max anyways.

Where would you go that you needed more than 4 hours flying with reserves and about 725 miles XC distance?

......to Bermuda....800 miles. Four hours in an RV, plus 1 hour reserve. Check out Safeair1.com for extended range tanks that fit in the rib holes just ahead of the spar.....really neat and light installation.

Pierre

rv9av8tr · #7 08-13-2007, 01:48 PM

I completely agree that the airplanes need longer range than 36 gal will give. I swear that 80% of the time there is a headwind component, so getting 185 mph ground speed is against the odds. I flew my Long-EZ for 22 yrs and frequently made 4-5+ hr flights and still had over an hr of reserve on board. For my RV-9A I've designed 2 fiberglass tanks that tuck in behind the seats, putting the moment arm between pilot and baggage station, that way baggage weight-arm is not used up with fuel. These tanks will bring total fuel capacity to 52 gal, giving the airplane a true cross country capability.

mansboat · #8 08-13-2007, 03:30 PM

How are you connecting those glass tanks to the fuel system?

Bryan Wood · #9 08-13-2007, 06:11 PM

Having bigger tanks in the 9's would certainly be nice, but if you are willing to go high you can get the burns down so low that you can make that trip with standard tanks. At least you can in one direction. Before going any further I haven't planned this out, but I did enter the direct route with the airports that you listed into AOPA's flight planner and here is what it came up with. Again, direct which may or may not be possible but that would take more serious research. With the parameters for my 9A programmed into the planner the trip would take 4 hours and 34 minutes if I departed now and the total fuel burn would be 29 gallons. This is to cover a direct of 734 miles. To accomplish this at 13,500' with burns of 6 gallons per hour will leave over an hour reserve. Can this be done both directions on this trip? Okay you got me there and you'll most likely be stopping for fuel. However, if this is you measuring stick for a cross country airplane you will only really need an additional 6 gallons or so. If you choose to fly lower the burns will hurt you though and you'll pay with a stop.

Congradulations on your new airplane! Welcome to the good times.

Best,

Captain Avgas · #10 08-13-2007, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcmcdowell

Where would you go that you needed more than 4 hours flying with reserves and about 725 miles XC distance?

Somewhere remote that doesn't sell Avgas.