flyrotary@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

Message

Be careful with the system of pumping from one tank and returning to the other. With the flow rates that an EFI pump returns to the tank, it would require very active tank managment to avoid sucking the one tank dry. this caused an engine out/off field landing for the prototype Pulsar 100 a few years back.

Bill Schertz
KIS Cruiser # 4045

----- Original Message -----

From: Russell Duffy

To: Rotary motors in aircraft

Sent: Monday, May 30, 2005 2:45 PM

Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: will EFI pumps pump air

One thing I'm considering is to just use the regular pumps to transfer
fuel. If you plumb the tanks to a fuel selector, then when you select
the aux side the excess flow will end up in what's now your primary
tank.

This is probably a step better than having one pump per tank. The only negative I see is not being able to run the tank out without killing the engine. With all the tanks you're talking about having, that's probably not a big deal, but the RV-3 only has two 15 gallon tanks, so using every last gallon is useful (if I ever went anywhere).

I've seen the 1st idea work in certified planes; the 2nd idea is wild
speculation.

Thanks, but I have enough wild speculation of my own :-)

Charlie
(Wish you could have made it up here this weekend; if you get bored &
need a place to fly come on up for lunch sometime.)

Roger. It might happen some day.

Rusty