Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 19:01:29 -0500
Message-ID: <redirect-2929594@logan.com>
From: olsen25@comcast.net
Subject: Re: To header or not to header

LNC2 Crowd,

I completely agree with Ian Crowe about getting rid of the header tank.  I did not like:
 1. the safely issue of having fuel between me and a hot engine,
 2. variable weight off the CG,
 3. worrying about keeping the header full and not pumping it overboard.

I do like:
 1. the extra space available up front when the header is removed,
 2. ease of removal of the front deck for behind-the-panel maintenance
 3. locating the battery up front, helping CG and reducing the amount of
    heavy gage wire (weight and electrical losses).

One consideration when drawing fuel out of the wings is unporting of the fuel pick-up.  I installed a baffle rib with slosh doors that traps a couple gallons of fuel at the inboard end of the wing tanks.  I have heard of folks successfully drawing from the wings without the slosh doors, but it makes me pucker a bit.  For directions from Lancair on how to put in the slosh door take a look at:

http://www.lancaironline.net/archives/sloshdoor1.gif
http://www.lancaironline.net/archives/sloshdoor2.gif
http://www.lancaironline.net/archives/sloshdoor3.gif
http://www.lancaironline.net/archives/sloshdoor4.gif

Please note that on the first page the drawing incorrectly shows the doors installed on the outboard side of the baffle rib instead of the inboard side.  The way it is drawn will keep fuel OUT of the pick-up area :)

You can take a peek at my header tank area and what I have installed up there at http://w1.lancair.net/pix/olsen-construction/HPIM0099

Regards,

Dan Olsen
320 MKII, N320DK, 70 hours