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In a message dated 6/26/01 7:35:26 PM EST, gwbraly@gami.com writes:

<< If the engine does not start *IMMEDIATELY* by merely switching from one dry
tank to one "adequate" tank, then something is simply wrong with the fuel
system design or installation.  It should take no more than 2 to 5 seconds maximum, without the boost pump,
if you wait for the engine to completely die from starvation on the tank
going dry.  If you switch tanks at the first sign of fuel starvation (fuel
flow fluctuation) then the engine will hardly miss a beat.

If you are truly fearful of this exercise, then get somebody to do it with
you that understands the system and knows and appreciates why it is
important. >>


Hmmmmm.

Could you fly on one "adequate" tank while pumping fuel from the other nearly dry tank into a container onboard the airplane? (Please disregard my earlier posts about having fuel inside the fuselage and having a heavy wing on final...)

Lets say you run one tank dry on the ground. Now add one gallon to the dry tank. While flying on the other tank, you draw as much fuel as you can from the "dry" tank into an onboard container (header tank?). When you are back on the ground you completely fill the "dry" tank and note the amount to fill it. The amount to fill the tank will be your useable fuel for that tank. Repeat the operation for the other tank and you've got your total useable fuel.

You would have to have some custom plumbing, an extra valve, a second fuel pump, etc. Oh yeah, make sure the onboard container is quite a bit more than one gallon in case you can draw more fuel in flight than on the ground.

Just a thought...

Paul Klusman

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