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Breakfast at Midlothian and a Little Glitch

 
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cookwithgas



Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 159

PostPosted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 7:56 am    Post subject: Breakfast at Midlothian and a Little Glitch Reply with quote

Yesterday my wife and I flew to the annual pancake breakfast at Midway Regional Airport in Midlothian, Texas. Upon taking to the air for the second time in Texas, we were greeted with the normal bumpiness I had experienced on the first flight here with Jay Bannister. Nebraska flying is as smooth as glass compared to this rough air, but the airplane was solid as a rock. The traffic was another change as there were several airplanes in the air going this way and that along with one at our same altitude a mile or so away headed the other direction. My wife commented on how fast it was going but it was a Cessna 150 so it just looked like it zipped by due to the relative speed.

The breakfast was an annual event so it was quite the to do. Lots of people drove in so the car parking was full. The CAP had kids in uniforms with light sticks motioning where to go upon landing and that was kind of cool. We got lots of looks as the 601 is a unique airplane among all the Cessna's and few RV's that were in attendance. There were lots of kiddie activities like a small train on wheels and other stuff. There were four or five remote control airplanes that looked like they cost as much as my 601 and were not much smaller. They were flying them all around the airport in and amongst the real airplanes which looked kind of weird. It was hard to tell them apart at first. Also a small helicopter was giving rides. The helicopter pilot (a lady) was the most active on the radio and received some due warnings about staying clear of the airplanes (she was departing on the taxi-way).

Upon departing Midway, we had a little bit of a wait because of all the traffic coming and going so we got lots of waves and stares being so different from the rest of the airplanes. Then the exciting part happened. Upon climb-out the engine sputtered and started to die. What???? It really took me by surprise. Instinct kicked in I guess and right away I flipped my fuel tank switch to the other pump and tank. The Corvair kicked right back in. Hmm. I was a little nervous at that point but continued South toward our new house with the intention of some aerial photos. There were several small airports in the vicinity so I climbed high in case I had to glide somewhere. We made several passes once we found the house and started to climb out again when I decided to see what was up with the left fuel pump (mine are in the wings). Sure enough cough, sputter, sputter flip the switch and Vrooom - back in action. This was enough to convince me to return to base instead of heading down to Corsicana where we intended to go.

Sure enough after we arrived at the hangar, I turned off the engine and verified I was only getting a click and a hum instead of the normal, loud thumping of the fuel pump. So there you go - a fun project for next week - Changing out the left fuel pump. Upon arriving at Grand Prairie, two old guys hunted me down in their car to ask what kind of an airplane this was and what engine I had. They were in a new Cadillac Escalade and probably were flying a Mega-$ aircraft but were still interested in my little homebuilt. This happes all the time and makes me very proud of the 601XL/Corvair combination.

Flying yesterday was a wonderful thing. A little excitement with the fuel pump didn't spoil our day and I'm sure glad we had a redundant system for a back up.

Happy flying,

Scott in Texas
601XL/Corvair.
cookwithgas(at)hotmail.com


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Gig Giacona



Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

PostPosted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:02 am    Post subject: Re: Breakfast at Midlothian and a Little Glitch Reply with quote

cookwithgas wrote:
...we were greeted with the normal bumpiness I had experienced on the first flight here with Jay Bannister. Nebraska flying is as smooth as glass compared to this rough air ...

The upside is that you won't be snowed in 3 months of the year and the BBQ is better.

Good flight report. Keep 'em coming. I need the motivation.


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601XL Under Construction
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cookwithgas



Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 159

PostPosted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:41 am    Post subject: Re: Breakfast at Midlothian and a Little Glitch Reply with quote

Gig - you have no idea how glad we are to be in warm weather again without the prospect of snow looming in the months ahead!

I'm glad you liked the report - I hope to have many more flying adventures in North Texas coming up.

Scott in Texas
601XL/Corvair


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sdthatcher



Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 91
Location: Port Saint Lucie

PostPosted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:41 am    Post subject: Breakfast at Midlothian and a Little Glitch Reply with quote

Great story Scott and it sure was good to hear you found the problem right
away.

Blue Skies...

Scott Thatcher
601XL with WW Corvair
N601EL 27 hours and climbing...
<<Yesterday my wife and I flew to the annual pancake breakfast at Midway
Regional
Airport in Midlothian, Texas. ...>>


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Scott Thatcher, Port Saint Lucie, FL
601XL with Corvair, Registered as E-LSA
N601EL, EAA203 140 hours and not flying currently.
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Tim Juhl



Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 488
Location: "Thumb" of Michigan

PostPosted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 8:06 am    Post subject: Re: Breakfast at Midlothian and a Little Glitch Reply with quote

Scott,
Are your only fuel pumps in the wing? As I recall the Corvair install doesn't use an engine driven pump, correct? I guess my real question is if you lose a pump do you also lose the ability to draw fuel from it's associated tank?

Tim


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Gig Giacona



Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

PostPosted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 8:54 am    Post subject: Re: Breakfast at Midlothian and a Little Glitch Reply with quote

Tim Juhl wrote:
Scott,
Are your only fuel pumps in the wing? As I recall the Corvair install doesn't use an engine driven pump, correct? I guess my real question is if you lose a pump do you also lose the ability to draw fuel from it's associated tank?

Tim


Which is why in the William Wynne "suggested" design the pumps are are in-line and draw from the tank selected by the tank selector.

Those pumps do fail. I've already replaced one an the plane has never flown. Probably my fault I ran it to long dry. But it's not like I ran it THAT long.


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601XL Under Construction
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cookwithgas



Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 159

PostPosted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:51 am    Post subject: Re: Breakfast at Midlothian and a Little Glitch Reply with quote

Tim and Gig:

No engine-driven pump and both pumps are mounted on the fuselage covered by the nose of the wings. Two things I planned for before getting too far along on the airplane were 1) BRS and 2) no fuel lines in the cockpit.

I don't want to start a debate on the merits, I am merely pointing out how I did it. I ran all of my fuel lines under the fuselage with a valve extension inside the cockpit to shut off fuel. I have two independent systems of tank, pump and fuel line. They T together after check valves so I can't pump from one tank to the other. This way, there is no firewall penetration and really no place to mount another fuel pump on the firewall. If push came to shove I could mount one upside down under the floor.

Another point is that since I have been flying, I never go very long without switching tanks. I keep them about even and generally don't fly below 1/2 tank in both tanks. I had a pretty good scare over Indiana last summer where I miscalculated the distance and wind to my next stop. I'll never let that happen again. Even then I kept switching down to touching the "E's."

The Corvair runs great until you stop sending fuel to it. I was pretty careful in the design to make sure it always gets fuel.

I got the fuel pump at lunch and swung by the airport to remove the inspection plate. I think this might be easier than I anticipated.

Scott in Texas
601XL/Corvair


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Gig Giacona



Joined: 10 Jan 2006
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Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

PostPosted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:12 am    Post subject: Re: Breakfast at Midlothian and a Little Glitch Reply with quote

Scott,

I am glad that you don't have the fuel under pressure in the cockpit.


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cookwithgas



Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 159

PostPosted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:15 am    Post subject: Re: Breakfast at Midlothian and a Little Glitch Reply with quote

Gig Giacona wrote:
Scott,

I am glad that you don't have the fuel under pressure in the cockpit.


Gig: Another good point. I wanted to put the fuel pumps as close to the tank as possible to avoid vapor lock so that would mean pressurized fuel from the wings to the engine. Thanks for making that point.

Scott in Texas.


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