Topic: Fuel Tanks

[DGH]

This question out of idle curiosity!

I'm not a pilot but I hear that Chipmunks tend to empty there right fuel tank quicker than there left. Do you find that with yours?

Should this be in engineering?

[Taffy]

I'm not a pilot but I hear that Chipmunks tend to empty there right fuel tank quicker than there left.

I'm not a pilot either, so have absolutly no idea about fuel tanks but I am the daughter of two teachers so have had spelling rammed down my throat whether I liked it or not (not that you can tell half the time...) and so I'm sorry for being rude and pointing this out but the above sentence should read:

"I'm not a pilot but I hear that Chipmunks tend to empty THEIR right fuel tank quicker than THEIR left."

So sorry, but I couldn't help it...

Taffy xXx

[DGH]

Yeah, yeah thats wot I ment to right 'innit  :tongue:

[Joe]

Yeah, yeah thats wot I ment to right 'innit  :tongue:

'tiz

[Duncan]

Anyway back to the question...

I'm not a pilot but I hear that Chipmunks tend to empty there right fuel tank quicker than there left. Do you find that with yours?

I think WD305 falls into that category if i remember correctly, but off the top of my head I'm not sure that WP857 does...will try and remember to make note next time I do an in flight fuel check!!!  

[DGH]

Thanks for the input Duncan. Anybody care to have a guess why this might be? The fuel system is symetrical after the fuel cock so I cant see a good reason but I have heard it mentioned before.  :scratch:

[Duncan]

A quick look at the most recent edition of the T10 Pilots Notes (Oct 2000) has the following paragraph:

The position of the fuel vent on the underside of the fuselage should result in both tanks emptying evenly.  If, for any reason, uneven emptying occurs and one tank is allowed to empty completely, the other tank may fail to supply fuel to the engine.

Maybe fouling or partial blockage of the fuel vent line?

[Dean Cross]

Fuel tends to feed from left tank first. That is where the the primer takes it from.

[Duncan]

:blackeye:  dink

[chipmunkflyer]

You will also find if the aircraft is not flown in balance then this situation will occur.

Happened to me whilst flying formation with a Tiger Moth at 65 kts across the USA recently - full left tank... 4 galls right tank.

One other time that I know of was Chipmeet 2005 over Antwerp in a 12 ship - one of the five guys up front called a low fuel situation on one tank and was promptly told by the leader to ' sort your feet out'.

Hope this helps!!

Rod

[DGH]

You will also find if the aircraft is not flown in balance then this situation will occur

One other time that I know of was Chipmeet 2005 over Antwerp in a 12 ship - one of the five guys up front called a low fuel situation on one tank and was promptly told by the leader to ' sort your feet out'.

Rod

     

[Neil Bordessa]

I find when doing aero's one side empties quicker than the other depending on either left rolls, stall turns, etc to right ones..... moral of the story mix them up more....voila  

[Vince Chadwick]

Fuel tends to feed from left tank first. That is where the the primer takes it from.

The primer on ours is simply a lever that works one of the fuel pumps while pulling a ring that depresses the carb float. So the fuel comes from the same place it does in normal operation.

Vince

[Dean Cross]

Vince,
I know what you mean about the primer setup as they are all the same but somebody told me that it takes from the left tank and that is where the "ticking" sound comes from on both our Chipmunks when priming.
Is there anything else in the system??

Declan

[Vince Chadwick]

Think the clicking noise is the non-return valve to stop the fuel running back into the tank. Not got the manual to hand but I think there is only one fuel pipe from the fuel on/off tap to the fuel pumps.

Vince