atlee dodge 30.5 tanks

[skysigns]

what is the Usable gallons of fuel in atlee dodge 30.5 tanks

 

[Steve's Aircraft (Brian)]

From what I remember 60 gallons, 1 gallon of unusable fuel.

--Brian

 

[BC12D-4-85]

I had a set in a PA-12-180. Useable for me depended on tank attitude in flight or when parked. Dihedral, incidence, and yaw, etc. I tried to drain one if required via a skid towards the outlet in a slight climb. Not much was left when emptied but I never drained it to measure.

Gary

 

[Gordon Misch]

Before I bought mine I asked Atlee how much was usable. He said "all of it". I have them in my -12 and think that's true for coordinated flight. Though obviously flight attitude affects where the fuel is located in the tank.

 

[mvivion]

That’s what Atlee told me as well. In perfect circumstances, likely true. I never liked those tanks. Seems like you are always lugging around more fuel than you need. Big, flat tanks…..five gallons doesnt look like much in those.

MTV

 

[Paul Heinrich]

It's tough to fly a 12 legal hauling 60 gallons of gas in the tanks.

 

[corvus-migrans]

Hi friends. I am happy to have the Attlee Dodge tanks. Since than I never ran short on fuel accidentaly. I guess I never could have made my long flight through the arctic Canada 2008

 

[mvivion]

Frankly, a fuel belly tank that can be removed is a much better solution, in my opinion. A combination fuel/cargo pod offers a lot of advantages. But, if you’re constantly flying looooong trips where there is no fuel….

MTV

 

[DENNY]

One of the best things for fuel management is a properly calibrated fuel flow gauge. My EI Fuel Flow is go to 0.1 gal for a 18 gal tank. As a backup I run the Right tank until the engine coughs which is right at 18 gal. That means I only have to manage that known 18 gal. My buddy has a Citabria that has only a off and both fuel control and no Fuel flow gauge. He would always want to land 1 hour before the others with same fuel because it was very hard for him to figure fuel remaining.
DENNY

 

[JohnnyR]

what is the Usable gallons of fuel in atlee dodge 30.5 tanks

In our experimental 18, about 58.5g. Definitely not 61g.
As others have written, flight attitude will affect it.
Most important is to ensure the sight tubes are installed properly and not trapping fuel at the bottom, leading to false impressions of onboard fuel. See install instructions.
I wouldn't fly the Atlee tanks (or any other nowadays due to greatly diminished instrument cost) w/o an electronic fuel totalizer, fuel stick and experience with running each side dry in both level and turning/descending/climbing flight. During my initial flight period, I ran it through varied flight configurations so I understand what's happening with fuel tanks/flow and why.