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At 12:42 PM 5/14/01 -0400, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

>----[Please read
><http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm>http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm
>before following any advice in this forum.]----
>Well Andy,
>
>I sort of agree with you.  I ALWAYS fly by time (3 hours on the tach from
>full tanks to refueling)

I've noticed that I get about the same RPM in level flight firewalled, or
with the throttle
pulled back out a ways, but the difference is speed. I know I'm using more
gas with
the throttle open, so I guess for me using tach time wouldn't be great. Of
course my
comfort duration is exceeded by fuel capacity, so that's quite a safety
factor. :-)

>but the header gauge is not a fuel gauge - it is a fuel pump fail
>indicator <g>

It's a pretty good warning that you've got under an hour left to fly,
however
that may have come about.

>.  Seriously, If the header gauge starts to drop I get very nervous.

So do I, and due to the funny shape of the tank, it does tend to be lower
when
leveling out from a climb (at least on my fuel system). I always watch it
with keen
interest until it comes back up to the red pony-tail holder around the
glass tube
that I use as a nominal level indicator. Actually, one of the reasons I
like the
rain-pruf gauge is that it is possible to have markings. The illusion that
the wire
is sinking is something akin to 'automatic rough' that engines develop
over
water.

>   I try to always refuel before it happens.  But the header gauge is the
> only indication I have that something might be wrong with the fuel pump.

Like I said, I lose interest in the whole subject of continuing to fly
between 30
and 60 minutes before going through the contents of the wing tanks. Gross
weight
limitations aside, that generally is a pretty good safety factor!

But I've never liked flying in circumstance where there was any question
about having enough gas to get to the next fuel stop.

I'm starting to learn that 8 gallons (in the 9 gallon tanks) is a more
realistic
capacity to pump to. Given that fuel moves around the system, if you
fill up to 9 per side when the header is full, as it almost always is
after
landing, there ends up being no room for 'tilt' factor, and a modicum of
gas ends up spewing from one of the wing tank vents.

Greg

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