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1968 337C (IT'S NICE TO KNOW THE MODEL)
TWO MAIN TANKS
TWO AUX TANKS
THE FIRST THING I LEARNED FROM MY DAD ABOUT FLYING WAS VERY SIMPLE.
FILL THE TANKS BEFORE YOU FLY
WHEN YOU COME BACK, FILL THE TANKS
THEN THEY ARE READY WHEN YOU FLY NEXT
MY SKYMASTER WILL FLY WITH FULL TANKS AND 4 – 5 PEOPLE WITH NO PROBLEM. WHY EVEN QUESTION THE LEVEL. WHY BUY EXPENSIVE GADGETS IF THE TANKS ARE ALWAYS FULL. IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO FILL THE TANKS, YOU BETTER SELL THE PLANE.
OK, NOW I AM OFF OF MY SOAP BOX
ON LONG TRIPS, MORE THAN 2.5 HOURS, I WILL FILL ALL 4 TANKS
START WITH THE MAINS FOR 1 HOUR (TO ALLOW ROOM FOR THE RETURN FUEL FROM THE AUX’S WHEN THE AUX’S ARE SELECTED), SWITCH TO AUX, WITHOUT USING THE BOOST PUMPS (NO NEED TO)
SET THE TIMER ON ONE HOUR AND WHEN THE HOUR IS UP WAIT FOR THE FIRST ENGINE, ALWAYS THE REAR ON MINE, TO SPUTTER AND SWITCH BACK TO THE MAIN. SOMETIMES I WILL GIVE IT JUST A QUICK BOOST TO HELP THE FUEL TO THE ENGINE. THE FRONT IS USUALLY ABOUT 3 MINUTES AFTER THE REAR. SAME PROCEDURE, I HAVE OPERATED LIKE THIS FOR 25 OR SO YEARS. NOW THAT I AM FLYING MORE IFR I LIKE TO KEEP 10 GALS IN EACH AUX. IF PERHAPS I NEED TO HOLD OR FIND THE ALTERNATE I HAVE 25 – 30 MINUTES ON THE AUX’S TO USE AND THE REMAINDER IS FED BACK TO THE MAINS. I NORMALLY WILL USE THIS 20 GALS ON SHORTER INTERMEDIATE VFR FLIGHTS JUST TO ROTATE THE STOCK.
GENTLEMEN, WITH THE SKYMASTER THERE IS NO REASON TO TAKE OFF AND FLY ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE TANKS. I JUST WON’T DO IT.
FILL EM’ UP!
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