Fueling the discussion...

[hubbabubba]

As the thread Conspicuous by Their Absence is turning into a buffet, I'm taking upon myself to open a new thread with one of the very off-topic, but quite interesting, subject of fuel, range, tank's capacity and air files style.

To summarized, smilo was complaining about Mosquito aircraft not living up to expectations range-wise. Ivan explored one model and I explored Roger Lowery's nice RAF662 Mosquito FB 6 v. 2.5 to discover that its AIR file was only containing 57.6 gallons in the Main Center tank (section 531), 92 gallons in the main right tank (section 526) and 92 gallons in the main left tank (section 525).

On top of that, it had section 303-1003, normally associated with "FS98 style" AIR files, characterized by the absence of a 505 section. So, it was carrying 546 gallons as "dead weight".

On a parallel topic, Ivan was in search of a fuel switch capable of selecting left auxiliary, right auxiliary, main right, and main left tanks.

For details, go foray in Conspicuous by Their Absence buffet.:isadizzy:

[hubbabubba]

Hello!

"My" gauge is from Jay Crawford and, from the look of it, so is smilo's.

I have updated Roger Lowery's Mossie AIR file to include the following;

Fuel Center 1 Tank (section 531) 60.047520 gallons
Fuel Left Main Tank (section 525) 171.735900 gallons
Fuel Right Main Tank (section 526) 171.735900 gallons
Fuel Left Aux Tank (section 527) 69.655130 gallons
Fuel Right Aux Tank (section 528) 69.655130 gallons

These odd numbers reflect the translation from Imperial to US gallons for the FB 6 according to Pilot's notes.

Sections 302 and 1003 were removed.

BTW Ivan; according to Pilot's notes, the FB 6 long range center tank of 63 Imp gal is in addition to the 2x25 Imp gal of the center tanks.

When left to work on their own, auxiliary R-L and central tank are being emptied first, the main R-L tanks in "waiting pattern".

In stock a/c, all are using central main tanks. The Fw 90 is using 1-2-3 tanks and is emptying tank 3 first, then tank 2, then tank 1.

I will have to check emptying priorities before trying to see if "my" gauge is working on them.

It may take a while as family obligations will keep me away from the PC for the day.

[Ivan]

Hello Hubbabubba,

I am not quite sure what you mean about stock aircraft using central main tanks. The P-51D uses two 92 gallon wing tanks as main tanks. The Stock Hurricane also uses two large wing tanks as main tanks. Perhaps I just don't understand what you are stating here.

BTW, FWIW, just about every day priorities keep me away from my PC for most of the day.

- Ivan.

[smilo]

smilo was complaining about Mosquito aircraft not living up to expectations range-wise
really? I thought I was just pointing out a discrepancy.
okay, whatever

--------------------------

attached is the switch I found.
the read me is by Chuck Dome.

[hubbabubba]

Hello Ivan,

You're right. In AirEd, sections do not appear in order, unless you make them, and those two slipped by.

Hello smilo,

I thought I was just pointing out a discrepancy.

You say tomatoes...

There is a proverb in French; «Qui résume trahit.» (Who summarize betrays.)

I just downloaded the gauges. I stand corrected; they are indeed from Chuck Dome. Jay Crawford's gauges are very, very, but very similar. I will test them as well with CFS1 tanks.

[Ivan]

The P-40 Series also had three fuselage tanks. I am actually using the FW 190A fuel selector for these planes. Late models of the Spitfire also had three tanks. The funny thing is that in the Pilot's Manual, it is stated that they are NOT to be used on any of the Spitfires with a bubble canopy.

I wonder how the "Default" fuel load is determined. The F4U-1A I built a long time ago has two ferry tanks in the wings which are not to be used on combat missions. The fuel tanks on the Dauntless are not to be filled to capacity except for on non-combat missions. I don't know why yet.

The Birdcage Corsair (F4U-1) only has a single main fuselage tank as does the F4U-1D. The F4U-1D had the wing tanks removed because it used drop tanks for increased range.

- Ivan.