Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Geoff Storey on April 23, 2017 at 11:31pm

When I got my 701 it had a 20litre steel tank up in the luggage compartment roof,it was professionally built ,when I did the rebuild I took it out not keen have fuel in the cabin with me .cheers Geoff

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wayne Woloshin on April 24, 2017 at 7:51am

Hi Phil, The fuel pods that attach to the struts are very popular on ultralights.They can be easy to add on a CH701 and hooked up to your fuel system,they hold about 5 Gallons each and are Sold in pairs with all the mounting hardware and fittings. You can purchase from Leading Edge and WagAero (same Co.)in Wisconsin,CPS,LockWood,The cost is around $300.+shipping Tks Wayne

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joe Harrington on April 24, 2017 at 9:12pm

I am with Wayne. This is about as simple of a solution as one most likely will find. I added them to my Beaver ultralight to extend the range and it was a relatively easy system to plumb. When I added them, it did not seem to affect the cruise speed much on my 70 mph UL. Not real pretty but should be able make the tanks and hardware quickly removable fairly easily. Aircraft Spruce also has them: http://www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog/eppages/ultralighttank05-12347...

Joe

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bob Pustell on April 24, 2017 at 11:17pm

I would want to do some research with the factory or a good engineer before hanging those on the struts of any airplane. The tank and brackets and such weigh five pounds and the five gallons of fuel another 30 pounds. That's 35 pounds at mid-span on the struts. I suspect that much weight on a very turbulent day or a very rough landing could induce some powerful forces, perhaps enough to bend or break the struts.

Also, I am presuming the picture above is not a US ultralight. US ultralights include in the definition of the class a fuel capacity limit of 5 gallons. An ultralight with 10 gallons of fuel on the wing struts would no longer be a legal machine.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wayne Woloshin on April 25, 2017 at 9:35am

You right this would not be considered a basic Ultralight in the USA. It would be considered LSA or have N registered. In Canada it would be Ultralight or Amateur Built.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Oliver Reik on April 25, 2017 at 12:33pm

I understand that you don't want to have fuel inside the cabin, but still want to make this proposal: Put a race fuel cell in the baggage area and pump fuel from there into one of the main tanks. They are even available with bladders inside and are capable of withstanding the most severe race car crashes.

 

We will go for such a setup. That way, I don't have to tinker with the original fuel system and can also make the tank easily removable, with fuel quick connectors, if desired. Another advantage is, that I will put the additional load in a place which is designed for it. Who knows how well the under-wing tanks and their attachment points will withstand operation in the ID backcountry!?   

 

Two common sources for fuel cells:

https://www.summitracing.com/int/search/part-type/fuel-cells?SortBy...

 

http://www.jegs.com/c/Fuel-Carbs-Intakes_Fuel-Cells-Fuel-Tanks/1029...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Kreilich on April 25, 2017 at 10:13pm

Have you thought of putting it behind the luggage compartment?  I have seen a few header tanks that mount in the fuselage behind the baggage area, thus out of the cockpit, not hanging on the wings causing more drag and out of the elements.  Just a thought.  Hope you are getting out flying.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mack P. Kreizenbeck on April 26, 2017 at 11:19am

Hey Phil,

Nice looking bird!

You bring up a valid point - here are a few things that you can consider:

You are flying an economical aircraft

In most of the Idaho back country strips you are never too far from fuel sources so fuel management is not a big problem

If you still want to opt for additional capacity, there are many certified aircraft out there that have fuel in baggage and/or nose bowl areas, so it is proven that living with fuel is not a big problem and should ease your concerns.

As mentioned in a earlier post on this blog, technology has greatly improved safety, i.e.race car fuel bladders, etc...

Contact the Heintz for their thoughts on modifications

A side note for all who are thinking about back country flying, be sure to get a personal checkout for each strip you desire to land on. 

These strips are known to bite the uninitiated!

Back country instructors are readily available.

Fly safe,

Mack Kreizenbeck

Meridian, Idaho

N990MK

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Don Morrisey on May 2, 2017 at 8:07pm

I have two 5 gallon fuel bags I got a few years back through Alaskan Bushwheels...they don't make them anymore, just water bags.  Some googling came up with these Chinese bags that Cubcrafter pilots have had good luck with...they look just like my alaskan bushwheel bags, which are great, they don't leak and they take up no room when empty.  You do have to put together a spout for them, which I did with some basic plumbing supplies...you just lay the bag on the wing with the spout in the fill opening and open the valve. Here's a link to the Cubcrafters forum, a link to the bags and a link to a spout you can use:

http://forum.cubcrafters.com/showthread.php/2888-fuel-bag

http://www.tmart.com/Portable-20L-Soft-Folding-Oil-Sac-Gasoline-Buc...

http://www.airframesalaska.com/Backcountry-Liquid-Bag-Spout-with-Va...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Phil Smith on May 2, 2017 at 8:39pm

Don,

All good stuff thanks for the links.

Phil

• ▶ Reply