The Murphy Builders Site

Hi All

I remember a thread a few years ago about fuel starvation with fairly
extreme nose pitch up and down attitudes and lowish fuel contents.

A local Maverick I looked at recently has a small header tank located just
behind the pilots head to prevent this happening. (not sure if this is
standard in a Maverick or not).

Has anyone experienced this problem in a Rebel / Elite, and any thoughts on
installing a "flop tube" (INVERTED PICKUP TUBE) in each wing, my thoughts
being if fuel contents where low the tube would travel with the fuel and
hopefully remain in it ?

I've never seen one of these flop tubes so it might not be suitable at all -
just wondered ?

Nigel
745E




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Nigel:

My thought is that, in a non aerobatic aeroplane, if you're that low, you
deserve to run out. Flop tubes have been used in model and aerobatic planes
for years, and I'd think they'd work well if the length of the tube is
chosen so the weighted end never touches the end of the tank, and the
interior of the tank is completely unobstructed (nothing for the weight to
get hung up on). About the only situation where you might run into a
problem on the Elite is with a nose down attitude and very low fuel, and I
doubt if the weight would respond to the very small force involved, unless
the tube was too light to be durable and immune to kinks. And I'd think any
tube long enough to reach the top and bottom of the tank would risk getting
hung up on the stringers.

I know the gas prices are fierce over there, but just buy another 5 gallons!

BTW, since it's been a while since anybody mentioned it, I hope newcomers
are cutting the lip off the root end of the lower stringers inside the tank.

Al.
----- Original Message -----
From: "N.Smith" <admin@airnig.co.uk>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 28, 2004 9:06 AM
Subject: Fuel Starvation and "flop tubes" ?

Hi All

I remember a thread a few years ago about fuel starvation with fairly
extreme nose pitch up and down attitudes and lowish fuel contents.

A local Maverick I looked at recently has a small header tank located just
behind the pilots head to prevent this happening. (not sure if this is
standard in a Maverick or not).

Has anyone experienced this problem in a Rebel / Elite, and any thoughts

on

installing a "flop tube" (INVERTED PICKUP TUBE) in each wing, my thoughts
being if fuel contents where low the tube would travel with the fuel and
hopefully remain in it ?

I've never seen one of these flop tubes so it might not be suitable at

all -

just wondered ?

Nigel
745E




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Hi Nigel !

Al is right - just buy another 5 gallons !!! ;-)

....... and just get it flying !!!!! :-)

Header tanks are almost always unnecessary and BAD NEWS !!
I lost a good friend because the header tank under the panel split open,
drenching him - and the hot exhaust manifold - with fuel !!! (Super Cub) :-(

I've flown all kinds of Murphy aircraft, with all kinds of different
variations on the fuel system, in all kinds of extreme attitudes, and
NEVER had a fuel flow problem !! I can't say that about several
certified aircraft i've flown & owned ....

I have deliberatley run a tank completely dry in flight - by flying
with that wing raised to drain the last drop out. I just leveled the wings,
turned that tank off, and turned on the other side - the engine hadn't stopped
windmilling, and just picked right up and I flew home & landed. I wanted
the tank dry so I could replace the sight guage tubing, which had been
discoloured by bad gas. If anyone worries about this, just add a fuel valve
from a Renegade to the bottom of the sight guage tubes - these are small
1/8" valves, that will allow you to shut fuel out of the guage in the
event of leaks or discolouration...

Keep rivetting - it IS worth it !!! ;-) :-)

...........bobp

-------------------------------orig.-------------------------
On Sunday 28 November 2004 09:06 am, N.Smith wrote:

Hi All

I remember a thread a few years ago about fuel starvation with fairly
extreme nose pitch up and down attitudes and lowish fuel contents.

A local Maverick I looked at recently has a small header tank located just
behind the pilots head to prevent this happening. (not sure if this is
standard in a Maverick or not).

Has anyone experienced this problem in a Rebel / Elite, and any thoughts on
installing a "flop tube" (INVERTED PICKUP TUBE) in each wing, my thoughts
being if fuel contents where low the tube would travel with the fuel and
hopefully remain in it ?

I've never seen one of these flop tubes so it might not be suitable at all
- just wondered ?

Nigel
745E




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