On my extended flight I have sometimes lost track of how many tanks I had
pumped into the main tank and in order to re-sync I ran the tank empty
(something which keeps you awake over the Oceans). I was surprised with
the time it takes from the filter running dry to the engine acutally
quitting.
Also, when the engine quits and you switch to aux tank it is a matter of
seconds til you have full power again.
Please keep your technique - it makes a lot of sense - but for all out
there - don't worry too much, even when the outlet goes dry due to change
in attitude - I reccon you can fly a full circuit on what is left in the
fuel line.
Great Airplane she is, the Europa !
<Thomas, N81EU>
----- Original Message -----
From: RoddyEuropa@aol.com
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Usable Fuel
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 01:25:48 EDT
Something to be aware of is that you could get fuel starvation when you
change attitute from level to climb if there is not much fuel in whatever
side of the tank you are drawing fuel from. This is because the tank is
square shaped at the bottom, and the fuel outlet is at the front. So take
the following scenario: you are landing with an almost empty main 'tank',
but a couple of gallons in the reserve. All is fine because your approach
attitude is level or slightly nose down. Then you have to go around -
nose up, the fuel goes to the back of the tank, and the engine gets
starved of fuel just when you needed it most! Because of this, if I'm
close to having to change to reserve when getting close to landing, I
change to the reserve tank a few minutes before landing. Roddy Kesterton#220
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