BeechTalk - BT - This is how far an MU2 Solitaire can go....

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 May 2016, 12:58

Username Protected wrote:

Did you open crossfeed to equal fuel in each side enroute?

On an MU2, both engines draw from a common center tank, there is no concept of crossfeed. The outer and tip tanks feed fuel into the center tank.

Mike C.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 May 2016, 13:00

Username Protected wrote:

Did you open crossfeed to equal fuel in each side enroute?

On an MU2, both engines draw from a common center tank, there is no concept of crossfeed. The outer and tip tanks feed fuel into the center tank.

Mike C.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 May 2016, 13:14

Username Protected wrote:

Where is the low fuel alert sensor? One in each wing or is the centre tank large enough to have one sensor there?

Low fuel caution is generated by a float switch in the center tank AND a trip switch on the mechanical fuel gauge. If EITHER shows less than 30 gallons/200 lbs, the low fuel caution turns on.

Some very early models tripped at 20 gallons and I believe they lacked the float switch, only operating off the fuel gauge. That ain't much!

Center tank is 156 gallons usable, 2+ hours of flight.

Mike C.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 May 2016, 14:20

AND,- make sure your outer tanks are feeding the main after the tips are dry...(oops!) glad I caught that one early enough the other day. BTW, the outer pumps are FAST and move a bunch of fuel if you really need 'em to top off the main.

Anthony, 200pph/side is really skimming along. RPM at 97%? Now you've given me something to shoot for!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 May 2016, 15:07

96% rpm.

For me there is a noticable noise diff between 96% and anything higher so I tend to run it there.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 May 2016, 15:21

Username Protected wrote:

96% rpm.

For me there is a noticable noise diff between 96% and anything higher so I tend to run it there.

What difference, in fuel burn, speed?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 May 2016, 15:21

Username Protected wrote:

96% rpm.

For me there is a noticable noise diff between 96% and anything higher so I tend to run it there.

Cool,- and still very respectable TAS :cheers:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 May 2016, 16:39

Username Protected wrote:

96% rpm.

For me there is a noticable noise diff between 96% and anything higher so I tend to run it there.

What difference, in fuel burn, speed?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 May 2016, 17:11

Thanks
I have been using 97% I heard the engine is best there. Small differences.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 May 2016, 19:43

Username Protected wrote:

I have been using 97% I heard the engine is best there. Small differences.

I get a little better mileage from 96%. I get a bit better speed (by only a few knots) at 98%. I recall hearing somewhere that the prop efficiency was optimized for 98%.

But as you say, overall the differences are small.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 May 2016, 19:49

Username Protected wrote:

Into TEB, 200 out DQO, 13000 in a Hawker. 11000 in a King Air. Not to mention the 3000 foot tour of NJ airports for the VOR B. EWR arrivals, overhead....

See. I'm not the only one.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 May 2016, 20:20

I do understand the situation, but it always hit me as odd that you guys are worried about low fuel when there is more left than my Bo holds topped off.

A whole different environment.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 May 2016, 22:22

Bob,

Think of it this way...an MU-2 Solitaire holds 2700 lbs of fuel. With 500 lbs of fuel left, he's at 18% of fuel capacity. A Bonanza holds about 74 gal of fuel...18% of fuel capacity left would be about 13 gallons. Yes, his 18% is a lot more than yours, but he also burns a lot more per hour, especially at lower altitudes or in a go-around at takeoff power. I'd submit most Bonanza owners are thinking about landing and refueling when they get down to that amount of fuel left in the tanks as well...

Put another way, 500 lbs of fuel left in an airliner is way below empty or "on fumes"...at that fuel level he's got engines flaming out!

Dave

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 May 2016, 09:10

Cool flight! Good range. And yes if you are careful on filling you can jam extra gas in there.
Our -M has the 15G outers (which I can l only get 12 or 13 in). One of my tips always seems to be able to take just a bit more than the other. :shrug:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 May 2016, 10:27

FW Center did that to me a couple weeks ago, from FL190 to 10,000 feet almost 100 miles out! It was crazy. Normally, I can come in high until 50 miles or less. I begged and pleaded; offed to do parallel route if I could stay up a bit longer. In addition to better efficiency, it was pretty bumpy below with cells building. Controller allowed it but called about 75 out and said I'd have to descend or he'd turn me out. Gave him a 500 FPM descent while muttering things about his family state under my breath