fuel pickup location

[flyboyo2]

I may be over thinking this but the fuel pickup on the 175 is in the center, fore and aft, of the tank.  Would it not be better if the pickup was located further aft so as to insure an adequate fuel supply while on plane with less than a full tank?

[dirtwheelsfl]

Theoretically, yes.    Id actually prefer it be more toward the middle, then youll have a little more of a "warning" when you start getting low and be able to back off and idle home or whatever need be...

[Woodeneye]

That right there, is a quality tip.

[flyboyo2]

Playing devil's advocate, what about emergencies? In my 42 years on the water I have seen gaffs in the leg, knives in various parts of the anatomy, heart attacks, diabetic shock and the ever popular run for the inlet ahead of an unforcast storm.  If the pickup is forward you have the gas but can't use it.  In these instances idle speed could be fatal.

[Woodeneye]

....now you are over thinking it. 

[CLM65]

The best approach is probably not to let the tank get too empty so as not to challenge the pickup location.  What is the old saying...a third volume to get to your destination, a third to get back, and a third in reserve?  Something like that.

[flyboyo2]

OK, I give, I believe you guys are correct.  The reason I asked was the tank I just pulled from my 175 had the pickup 6.5 inches from the aft end.  That didn't seem right as you would be picking up every bit of contamination in the tank with the pickup that far back.  I thought a happy median would work but I'll go with the consensus. Thanks

[dirtwheelsfl]

The best approach is probably not to let the tank get too empty so as not to challenge the pickup location.

I like that 

[HawgLeg]

My pick-up on my new Moeller 69 gallon is as far back as it can get. I'm planning on just letting the filters do their job. I'm an aviation guy and we always plan for the worst that could happen. Just don't cut it close...ever...its not worth it. With night flying its even more critical as you can't always visually find a place to put her down safely. My grandaddy always used to joke with folks saying (with regards to night flying) "If the engine quits just keep flying the plane. Fly that plane till you get right above the treetops. Then turn on your landing light and if you don't like what you see...turn it off"  makes me chuckle every time

[flyboyo2]

HawgLeg,  I was just on the RDS site and they have built thousands of tanks and all of their fuel pickups are at the ends of the tanks.  The aft end for planing hulls and the forward end on the big square tanks that must be for displacement hull types.

The key to fuel management is to know how much fuel is on board when you set out (full, you never have to much fuel unless your are on fire) and have a resonable idea of how much you burn while underway.  CML65's rule of 1/3s is a good rule of thumb to apply in this instance.  You are well aware the the three most usless things in aviation are altitude above you, runway behind you and fuel you can't burn.

Unless whoever builds my tank tells me differently, I am going to have the pickup installed about a foot forward of the aft end of the tank.  I think the 6 inch location on my old tank would be right in the clag, Racors are good but I'll help it out a little.

I did 35 years in the ozone.

[HawgLeg]

I did 35 years in the ozone.

Did you fly SR71 or U2?

[flyboyo2]

No, that was a little hyperbole my range was 0 ft to the low 40s.  USAF and DAL. You?