Oscar said: Inquiring minds want to know just what the deck angle might be on climb out...
Thinking of some racing technology, why not install the fuel line/pickup at the rear of the tank, maybe adding a small sump to make the lowest point at the rear middle of the tank (it would then be closest to the pilot). Circle track cars have their tanks made this way (can be bought pre-made and foam filled from Summit and Jegs) with their outlet at the right rear corner so that as they turn left around the track, inertia/centrifugal force assists in fuel delivery. Since on climb out any G force from the climb is focused to the rear wall of the tank, it would make sense to have the pickup located there to allow gravity pushing fuel to the rear of the tank to assist in its delivery. Holley carbs have their front bowl designed this way to help keep the jets covered, and offer jet extensions to try to keep the rear jets covered during acceleration. Maybe combining this with a vent tube run to the bottom of the firewall, and facing forward would allow for better flow and better venting/mild pressurizing from under the cowling air pressure (see Mark Langford's site for a graphic of the pressure distribution on the cowling). Keep in mind I have NOT done any of this. I am merely throwing out some ideas for those pilots who have KR's with header tanks, like I have and do not want to replace them, or cut into my wings at this point. If we can make them safer on fuel delivery, though that does not address the CG issues. I plan to install a rear tank with a fuel pump to re-fill the header tank when over half has been used and I have a passenger. I have flown my plane solo, at near empty fuel and had very good control, stable plane. The numbers for the CG were right in the middle of the spar, keeping in mind that my seats are 5 inches further forward than an unaltered KR2 plans built. It is just when flying with a passenger that the CG walks backwards excessively as fuel burns (stated many times before; mine is 1 inch in front of the spar solo full fuel and moves to the center from full to reserve). I will be using my fuel return line with a "Y" in it for the rear tank refill, with a check valve to prevent back flowing into the rear tank, since I will be using fuel injection. But I know LOTS of planes still use and will use carbs and gravity flow.... Colin Rainey [email protected]
