REFLECTOR: Understanding limitations: Fuel

Terry Miles terrence_miles at hotmail.com
Wed Jun 4 08:55:49 CDT 2008


To Scott and Larry and everyone,
Thank you for filling in the info gaps a little more.
Thanks
Terry

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Laurence Coen
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 10:40 AM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Understanding limitations: Fuel

Guys,

Keep the ball centered and you keep the fuel centered.

Larry Coen
N136LC

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Scott Derrick" <scott at tnstaafl.net>
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 7:52 PM
To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Understanding limitations: Fuel

> Terry,
>
> I think it only prudent to refrain from aerobatics when you've got less
> than 5 gallons per side !  :-)
>
> Laughing aside, if or when I get myself in a low fuel situation,(been
> that & done there) , I would insist in a straight in, if insisting
> doesn't work, I would  make very shallow coordinated turns in the pattern.
>
> Scott
>
> Terry Miles wrote:
>> Keith,
>> Thanks.  I have the FAR numbers for fuel.  I hope I have about as much
>> common sense as the next guy.  I too should have been more precise.  My
>> question really intended to address itself to what you or other Velo
>> operators have come to use (or intend to use) as "be on the ground" fuel
>> remaining figure very specific to this airplane.  Not to pilot rules or 
>> POH
>> limitations.  I should have left that out.
>>
>> When you shine flashlight into a big flat strake with only a couple of
>> gallons remaining it causes me to question what of the physics of tank
>> baffling and maneuvering flight add to the dynamics of a low fuel state.
>>
>> In the very back corner of my strakes, at Malcolm Collier's suggestion, 
>> we
>> ran another fuel out line out to the sump.  I would presume all the fuel 
>> is
>> capable of draining into the sump tank when in level unaccelerated 
>> flight,
>> put what about maneuvering in a RH holding pattern with 3/4 inch of fuel,
>> and having the right wing outlets being uncovered?
>>
>> I thought I'd raise the issue just to see what others have bumped up 
>> against
>> this either in theory or in practice.  It wasn't meant to be directed at 
>> you
>> or your post specifically.
>>
>> Don't take this to mean I intend to construct some rigid set of numbers.
>> Take it to mean I have an interest in the Velo fuel system, and I believe

>> a
>> comprehensive understanding of our particular set up and what to expect 
>> of
>> it is better method than tankering fuel to compensate for the unexamined.

>> I
>> know you didn't intend that.  I'll muddle along.
>>
>> The sump in the RG is about half that of the FG as I recall.
>>
>> Terry
>> Back in flight test (with a new improved gear warning!)
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
>> Behalf Of Keith Hallsten
>> Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2008 10:51 PM
>> To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
>> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: fuel tank placards
>>
>> Terry,
>>
>> Naturally you cannot include in your flight planning any strake capacity
>> that won't actually drain to the sump.  That is physically "unusable".
>>
>> The question of how much "usable" fuel you want to have on board at 
>> landing
>> at a minimum is a separate question, and is spoken to by both the FARs 
>> and
>> common sense.  Velocity aircraft generally have enough fuel capacity that

>> it
>> isn't too hard to plan to have a reasonable and comfortable reserve.
>>
>> In my original post I should more precisely have said, ". . . only 
>> consider
>> the USABLE capacity of the strake tanks in the capacity labeling".
>>
>> Keith
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
>> Behalf Of Terry Miles
>> Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2008 6:25 PM
>> To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
>> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: fuel tank placards
>>
>> Keith,
>> For POH reasons and with the assumption that real life xc fuel planning
>> follows what you put in the POH.  Are you considering that all the fuel 
>> in
>> the main tanks is usable?  I am inclined to say I am at dry tanks with 5
>> gals in each wing, but I be happy to see what others use for "usuable" 
>> or
>> said another way what is the min fuel you want to see on landing at your
>> alternate.
>> Thanks for the input,
>> Terry
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
>> Behalf Of Keith Hallsten
>> Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2008 6:47 PM
>> To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
>> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: fuel tank placards
>>
>> Doug,
>>
>> It's your call, but I would consider all of the sump to be either 
>> "unusable"
>> or "emergency reserve" and only consider the capacity of the strake tanks

>> in
>> the capacity labeling.
>>
>> Keith Hallsten
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
>> Behalf Of doug.holub at tx.rr.com
>> Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2008 2:30 PM
>> To: reflector at tvbf.org
>> Subject: REFLECTOR: fuel tank placards, Torx head screws
>>
>> My left and right fuel tanks hold 25.5 gallons each. My sump holds 5
>> gallons, but 2 gallons at the bottom of the sump are not reachable. Do I
>> placard my fuel tanks for 25.5 gallons plus half of the usable sump? Or 
>> half
>> of the whole sump? Or just the tanks?
>>
>> I saw an ad in one of the magazines a few months ago for Torx head 
>> stainless
>> steel 100 degree flat head screws. I bought some and they work just 
>> great.
>> I've been taking the cowl off and on a lot the past few months, and they
>> never strip out. I've got a Torx head for a small electric screwdriver.
>>
>> www.microfaseners.com
>>
>> They don't call them Torx, they call them "6 Lobe Drive". You'll find 
>> them
>> under "Socket Screws".
>>
>> Doug Holub, sprinting to the finish line
>>
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>
> -- 
>
> -
>    As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both 
> instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly 
> unchanged. And it is in such twilight that we all must be most aware of 
> change in the air however slight lest we become unwitting victims of the 
> darkness.
>
>    William O. Douglas, Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
>
>
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