Earthstar Forums

As I came out of RC airplanes I understand using a clunk for the fuel pickup in the tank. As the model rolls the clunk follows gravity.
I was really surprized that our fuel systems are the same.
If your fuel tank was like the 15 gallon tank in the "General" photo album, would not a bottom sump not work and forget about a clunk system?
If so, a water trap could be used at the lowest exit of the fuel.
If I could use a 15 gallon tank with the HKS Turbo burning 2 gallons a hour at an easy cruise, I am sure that my range would exceed my ability to resist a bathroom break! If you know what I mean. (if your over 50 you do know what I mean) I would never last 6 hours.
So that would be the simplest solution to the fuel problem and wing tanks would not be worth the trouble.
Do general aircraft use sumps or clunks?
My 2 cents worth.
Fred

In a message dated 3/1/2011 9:18:48 AM Pacific Standard Time,
gayford@golden.net writes:


As I came out of RC airplanes I understand using a clunk for the fuel
pickup in the tank. As the model rolls the clunk follows gravity.
I was really surprized that our fuel systems are the same.
If your fuel tank was like the 15 gallon tank in the "General" photo
album, would not a bottom sump not work and forget about a clunk system?
If so, a water trap could be used at the lowest exit of the fuel.
If I could use a 15 gallon tank with the HKS Turbo burning 2 gallons a
hour at an easy cruise, I am sure that my range would exceed my ability to
resist a bathroom break! If you know what I mean. (if your over 50 you do know
what I mean) I would never last 6 hours.
So that would be the simplest solution to the fuel problem and wing tanks
would not be worth the trouble.
Do general aircraft use sumps or clunks?
My 2 cents worth.
Fred






Hi Fred
Only aerobatic competitive planes use clunk tubes, yes all most all use
sumps. If they have aluminum tanks they must have a sump because there will
always be water in the tank, but not with plastic, that is why I don't use a
sump.
I like to carry cargo, you cant carry very much cargo is you are using your
payload to carry un needed gas.
Happy Flying
Mark

I'll second that. My Cessna Aerobat that I flew for about 12 years had no clunk, or inverted oil system. The rule was, don't stay inverted, and stuff won't run out out. The only mod I did was to replace the standard Gill battery with an Interstate gell type so I didn't get battery juice sloshing around. Rarely did I get a blip in power when I rolled, looped, emmelman, or other lop-sided manuevers.

kb