Hi real and virtual pilots!
How to fill fuel in tanks, when I need for example only 80% of fuel (about 37500 lbs, assuming flying without external tanks). Should I fill every tank in 80%?

Or rather fill four main tanks in 100% an two aux tanks in about 23%?

And what if I am flying with external tanks because I need for example 56200 lbs of fuel? Should I fill internal tanks in 100% and externals in 50%?

Or should I fill every tank in about 84%?

How would it be in reality?
regards,
eagle
PS Forgive me my poor english

Thank you very much for so fast answer
Regards,
eagle

First thing to remember is to keep 0 to 1000 pounds more in the outboard main tanks. Keep all semetrical tanks within 1000 pounds of each other.  The aux tanks dont matter, you can have 1 full and the other completly empty because its considered a fuselage tank not a wing tank.

Now if your flying the P model things are a little different.  They have the refueling pod out on the outboard portion of the wing, so the fuel distribution changes.  They estimate that the pod weighs 1000 lbs, so you need to keep 0 to 500 lbs more fuel in the inboard main tanks (2+3)

Normally we dont like to put more than 7500 in 1 and 4 and leave 2 and 3 at 7000.  If its the P model we keep the mains at 6800 in 1 and 4 and 7200lbs in 2 and 3 to keep the wings balanced.

Then the aux's always get filled first and then if the externals are needed for the specified fuel load we will use them.

The reason the rescue squadron like mine want no fuel in the externals is so they can do asault landings and other different aproaches without putting a retarded amount of stress on the wings. 

And not to mention the External tanks SUCK!!!  Always have somethign wrong.

Oh by the P model I mean the KC-130 here.  Sorry I work on the P's and they are just about the same thing.

hondaguru wrote on Jun 21^st, 2006 at 4:01pm:



We use to avoid using the AUX tanks. They leaked fuel quicker than you could put it in.

It was the RAF's "K". They are basicly an "E" with "H" wings and other various bits.

Dax

hondaguru wrote on Jun 21^st, 2006 at 4:01pm:


Your limits sound slightly different than ours.

Outbds > Inbds      500-1000
Symmetrical Tanks      <1000(exc Aux)
Wing-to-Wing      <1500(exc Aux)

I personally will usually load up 7000 in the outboards, 6000 in the inboards, and 5000 in the aux's for regional flying. 

Not on Hercs. Herc fuel tanks are vented to atmosphere. Unlike a fighter which requires a pressured fuel system to keep fuel flowing in aerobatics a Herc's is just pumped from the tank to the engines. Their is almost no pressure in the tanks at all. That is why the external tanks have two pumps, keep fuel flowing if one fails.

The main reason why the RAF Herc tanks leaked is they are flexible bag tanks. They need to be kept wet at all times to stop them cracking and leaking. Never happend in the RAF. They we so seldom used that they would dry out especially around the fixtures and fitting. Small leaks would start and leak into the dry bays around the tank and come out of the drains at the back of the main undercarriage.

Dax