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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!inuxc!ralph
From: ralph@inuxc.UUCP (Ralph Keyser)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Switching Fuel Tanks
Message-ID: <1187@inuxc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Mar-86 15:34:49 EST
Article-I.D.: inuxc.1187
Posted: Thu Mar 13 15:34:49 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 14-Mar-86 07:55:19 EST
References: <7900035@uiucdcs> <5111@alice.uUCp>
Organization: AT&T Consumer Products, Indianapolis
Lines: 19

> Why don't they make airplanes so that both fuel tanks supply fuel to
> the engine at the same time?  Seems like this would make things a lot
> easier.  You wouldn't forget to switch tanks, since you wouldn't have
> to.

Cessna has heard your request. Dash over and check out the fuel system
on a Cessna single. They have a left-both-right-off selector, and most
of the time you just park it on both and leave it. The handbook suggests
selecting left or right during refueling, and you need to be able to
select a single tank for balancing if you get uneven fuel burn or if
you have contamination in one tank. The argument against this system
is that it fails to teach you anything about fuel management - a skill
needed in most twins and other complex aircraft. The statistics, however,
show that the simple Cessna fuel system leads to fewer fuel mismanagment
accidents than any other types of aircraft. Cessna pilots, alas, still
manage to run out of fuel, just like everyone else.

				Ralph Keyser
				Archer 8320C