Hi,
Just wondered if there was a best practice in the use of wing tip tanks. I usually switch to the tip tanks for some of the cruise then switch back to the main tanks for approach and landing. In almost all cases the main fuel tanks will contain more fuel than the tip tanks
Am I correct to say that the fuel gauges in the cockpit show only the quantity of fuel in the main tanks, and exclude the wing tip tanks?.
Regards,
Tony
Correct Use of Fuel Tanks
- ClipperLuna
- Technical Sergeant
- Posts: 756
- Joined: 23 May 2014, 12:50
- Location: KPUW
Re: Correct Use of Fuel Tanks
Tip tanks for cruise in level flight (as needed), mains for everything else. Yes, the fuel gauges that are positioned by the oil temp & press gauges just tell you what's in the main tanks. The tip tanks get their own gauge under the mixture knob, to the left of the gear switch.
Re: Correct Use of Fuel Tanks
Hi ClipperLuna,
Great thanks - that's what I do most times so good to know I'm following correct procedures.
Regards,
Tony
Great thanks - that's what I do most times so good to know I'm following correct procedures.
Regards,
Tony
- Scott - A2A
- A2A General
- Posts: 16839
- Joined: 11 Feb 2004, 12:55
- Location: USA
- Contact:
Re: Correct Use of Fuel Tanks
And remember the tip tank gauge in the Comanche roughly shows 1/2 what is actually there. So when it is on F, it's really about 1/2. At 1/2, it's 1/4. At 1/4, it's 1/8th. When the tank is just under 1/4, I leave that fuel in as an emergency source.
Scott.
Scott.
A2A Simulations Inc.
Re: Correct Use of Fuel Tanks
Thanks Scott,
I hadn't previously realised that there were gauges for the tip tanks until pointed out by ClipperLuna. I've usually just used F4 to view the quantity. On one flight I forgot to check often enough and ended up running on just one litre of fuel in each tip tank, so basically running on empty! Just another question on this topic - what is the AUX fuel lever for - is it if an extra tank is fitted?
Regards,
Tony
I hadn't previously realised that there were gauges for the tip tanks until pointed out by ClipperLuna. I've usually just used F4 to view the quantity. On one flight I forgot to check often enough and ended up running on just one litre of fuel in each tip tank, so basically running on empty! Just another question on this topic - what is the AUX fuel lever for - is it if an extra tank is fitted?
Regards,
Tony
Re: Correct Use of Fuel Tanks
Now this is an interesting detail Scott. I always thought the gauges and especially the fuel gauges lacked the inherent inaccuracy they would have in real life. Guess I was wrong then.Scott - A2A wrote:And remember the tip tank gauge in the Comanche roughly shows 1/2 what is actually there. So when it is on F, it's really about 1/2. At 1/2, it's 1/4. At 1/4, it's 1/8th. When the tank is just under 1/4, I leave that fuel in as an emergency source.
Scott.
I share the same philosophy with TonyW, aux tanks only during cruise. In addition I only use one aux tank at a time while the other selector is to the other main tank. That is just in case I forget to switch back to the main tanks before running the aux tanks dry - the engine would get fuel from one main tank at least.
Here I noticed yet another interesting detail. Apparently there are no check valves in the fuel lines, so fuel actually flowed from the other tip tank to the opposite main tank. My first thought was that the other fuel line was clogged because of the uneven fuel levels. But in the end it was just basic physics, fluid flowing downwards. :idea:
- ClipperLuna
- Technical Sergeant
- Posts: 756
- Joined: 23 May 2014, 12:50
- Location: KPUW
Re: Correct Use of Fuel Tanks
Do you mean the switch under the tip tank gauge that swings left and right? It sets which tip/aux tank the gauge reads (IIRC).TonyW wrote:Thanks Scott,
I hadn't previously realised that there were gauges for the tip tanks until pointed out by ClipperLuna. I've usually just used F4 to view the quantity. On one flight I forgot to check often enough and ended up running on just one litre of fuel in each tip tank, so basically running on empty! Just another question on this topic - what is the AUX fuel lever for - is it if an extra tank is fitted?
Regards,
Tony
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests