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First flight fuel load

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wayne.e(at)grandecom.net
Guest

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 3:55 am Post subject: First flight fuel load

I'm at the stage where I should be leaving terra  firma before to long and in Vans first flight write up they indicate not to take  a full tank of fuel on the first flight. Is that what you flying people did? I  guess I can see some logic in that but I will be filling the tank to calibrate  my fuel level in my engine monitoring system and would then need to off load the  extra fuel. I'm wavering back and forth on  whether this is really necessary or not. 

  

 Anyone have any thoughts on this?

  

 Wayne Edgerton # 40336

  

 getting close

   [quote][b]

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carl.froehlich(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 4:21 am Post subject: First flight fuel load

Half tanks reduce  weight, but still more than enough fuel for first flight even if you have a  problem shifting tanks.

  

 For tank calibration,  you do one side at a time.  Fill the first tank one gallon at a time and  record the level indication.  Do this until the tank is full.  Now is  the time to do the fuel flow test.  Disconnect the fuel line at the  carb/throttle body and direct the fuel into the 5 gal gas cans.  Put a  cheap auto filter in line with the hose to the 5 gal can to filter out any junk  that may be there.  If not already done, you should bypass the airplane  fuel filter/gascolator the first couple of times so that you flush the tank junk  into the temporary auto filter.  Using this process you verify you have  adequate fuel flow for flight, and you now know the unusable fuel left in the  tank (since you know how much you put in, and measured how much you pump  out).

  

 Repeat the process on  the other tank.  When done, split the fuel between both  tanks.

  

 Carl  Froehlich

 RV-8A (325  hrs)

 RV-10  (wings)

 [quote]   --

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Randy(at)abros.com
Guest

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 7:27 am Post subject: First flight fuel load

I filled it up before my first flight because it was easier to calibrate the fuel when the tanks are empty.  I was going off of a long strip, KUAO and came in at 75 kts and let the speed bleed off. No issues. I did have 100 lbs in the baggage compartment to help minimize the forward CG and that worked perfect. I would pull 25lbs at a time out until after about 10 hours I had 25 lbs in there.  Randy 40006  

         

  

From: owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Wayne Edgerton

 Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 4:54 AM

 To: rv10-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: First flight fuel load  

  

     

I'm at the stage where I should be leaving terra firma before to long and in Vans first flight write up they indicate not to take a full tank of fuel on the first flight. Is that what you flying people did? I guess I can see some logic in that but I will be filling the tank to calibrate my fuel level in my engine monitoring system and would then need to off load the extra fuel. I'm wavering back and forth on whether this is really necessary or not.   

    

   

    

Anyone have any thoughts on this?  

    

   

    

Wayne Edgerton # 40336  

    

   

    

getting close  

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      [quote][b]

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billderou(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 8:08 am Post subject: First flight fuel load

Before my first flight I needed a weight and balance, needed to calibrate the fuel tanks, and needed to run taxi tests. All of these require fuel to be accurate. More or less fuel will not affect takeoff performance with one soul on board. Put some weight in the baggage compartment (50 lb) but tie it down since your aft baggage panel may not be installed. Make sure when you push the nose down trim button the elevator tab moves up. Set the elevator tab to 3/8" below the elevator trailing edge for takeoff. Assume on liftoff that the elevator trim may be too sensitive so let it climb a bit until you "test" the elevator trim. Also expect the standard Vans throttle control will back out unless it is locked.

   

  I'll guarantee quite a rush. Enjoy. Life doesn't get any better!

   

  Bill DeRouchey

  WTD Aviation Technology

  N939SB, post rush

  bill(at)wtdaviationtechnology.com (bill(at)wtdaviationtechnology.com)

   

   

   

   



Randy DeBauw <Randy(at)abros.com> wrote:

  [quote]      v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}    <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />    st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }                I filled it up before my first flight because it was easier to calibrate the fuel when the tanks are empty.  I was going off of a long strip, KUAO and came in at 75 kts and let the speed bleed off. No issues. I did have 100 lbs in the baggage compartment to help  minimize the forward CG and that worked perfect. I would pull 25lbs at a time out until after about 10 hours I had 25 lbs in there.  Randy 40006

   

        

  From: <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Wayne Edgerton

Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 4:54 AM

To: rv10-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: First flight fuel load



   

    I'm at the stage where I should be leaving terra firma before to long and in Vans first flight write up they indicate not to take a full tank of fuel on the first flight. Is that what you flying people did? I guess I can see some logic in that but I will be filling the tank to  calibrate my fuel level in my engine monitoring system and would then need to off load the extra fuel. I'm wavering back and forth on whether this is really necessary or not. 



     



    Anyone have any thoughts on this?



     



    Wayne Edgerton # 40336



     



    getting close



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jesse(at)saintaviation.co
Guest

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 9:35 am Post subject: First flight fuel load

You can go either way.  Full fuel with just one person isn’t a big deal for weight.  You probably wouldn’t even be able to measure a performance difference between full tanks and half tanks.  It may make a small difference in CG, although it is so close to the CL that it is probably also no measurable.  As others suggested, I would put some weight aft to help with CG during initial testing.  You will want to test with full tanks and pilot plus “copilot” for forward CG and then empty tanks with all seats and baggage full (use sandbags or boxes or books or something like that for simulating passengers) during your fly-off period.  The main concern with having full tanks for the first flight would be in case you have to make an off-field landing.  You want as little fuel as possible any time this may happen, but the highest chance of having this happen would be on first flight because the engine has no history on that plane.  So, if you don’t mind the hastle of unscrewing the sump valve to drain the tanks after calibrating them, I would say that it wouldn’t hurt to go with half tanks, but going with full (or almost full) tanks shouldn’t be a big deal.  

   

Do not archive  

     

Jesse Saint  

Saint Aviation, Inc.  

jesse(at)saintaviation.com (jesse(at)saintaviation.com)  

www.saintaviation.com  

Cell: 352-427-0285  

Fax: 815-377-3694  

        

  

From: owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Wayne Edgerton

 Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 7:54 AM

 To: rv10-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: First flight fuel load  

  

     

I'm at the stage where I should be leaving terra firma before to long and in Vans first flight write up they indicate not to take a full tank of fuel on the first flight. Is that what you flying people did? I guess I can see some logic in that but I will be filling the tank to calibrate my fuel level in my engine monitoring system and would then need to off load the extra fuel. I'm wavering back and forth on whether this is really necessary or not.   

    

   

    

Anyone have any thoughts on this?  

    

   

    

Wayne Edgerton # 40336  

    

   

    

getting close  

  [quote]   [b]

- The Matronics RV10-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

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kdbelue(at)charter.net
Guest

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 1:46 pm Post subject: First flight fuel load

I'm not certain what was meant by:

 "Put some weight in the baggage compartment (50 lb) but tie it down  since your aft baggage panel may not be installed."

  

 so I thought I should mention that on the 2 place planes,  Van's says not to fly without the baggage panel installed because it is required  to make the plane airworthy. I haven't seen anything about this on the RV-10,  but would suspect that it is required also. No flame intended, just want to be  safe.

  

 Kevin Belue

 RV-6A >700 hrs

 RV-10 finish kit

  

 [quote]   ---

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dav1111(at)suddenlink.net
Guest

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 1:45 am Post subject: First flight fuel load

I only put 10 gallons in each tank for the first  flight.  After that I filed the right tank full and during flight testing  at altitude ran the left tank empty and then calibrated the left tank to  calibrate.  

  

 The logic behind minimum fuel on the first flight is if  there is a forced landing on the first flight you really don't want to have full  gas tanks.

  

 Russ Daves

 N710RV - first flight 7/28/06

    [quote][b]

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wayne.e(at)grandecom.net
Guest

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 3:33 am Post subject: First flight fuel load

I've heard the same thing that the baggage panel is  a structural item and should always be on for flight?

  

 Wayne Edgerton #40336

  

  

             Time:      02:46:21 PM PST  US            From:      "Kevin Belue" <kdbelue(at)charter.net (kdbelue(at)charter.net)>            Subject:      Re: First flight fuel      load       

      I'm not certain what was meant  by:

      "Put some weight in the baggage  compartment (50 lb) but tie it down 

      since  your aft baggage panel may not be installed."

       

      so I thought I should mention that on the 2  place planes, Van's says not 

      to fly without  the baggage panel installed because it is required to  

      make the plane airworthy. I haven't seen  anything about this on the 

      RV-10, but would  suspect that it is required also. No flame intended,  

      just want to be  safe.

      

      Kevin  Belue

      RV-6A >700  hrs

      RV-10 finish  kit

      



   [quote][b]

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