Seaplane refueling from portable cans in 19 Mile Bay

[LIforrelaxin]

So curiosity got the better of me, I am not sure what plane is picture but to understand how much fuel a Cessna 180 would hold I decided to look it up... it appears a Cessna 180 holds between 55-60 gallons.... there was a long range option that added an additional 20 or so gallons of capacity.

With that said 6 5 gallon cans would give you 1/2 tank of fuel..... what that equates to for flight time I have no idea.....

When you look at the argument that ensued over crating a official runway, and float plane base in 19 mile bay, this looks like a stunt to me, to push the limits of what is allowable, to try and prove a point. From the photo, I can see the wheels on the floats so the plane is amphibious, and could easily land at Moultonborough or Laconia airports and fuel up, which would be much more convenient.........

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

With that said 6 5 gallon cans would give you 1/2 tank of fuel..... what that equates to for flight time I have no idea.....

When you look at the argument that ensued over crating a official runway, and float plane base in 19 mile bay, this looks like a stunt to me, to push the limits of what is allowable, to try and prove a point. From the photo, I can see the wheels on the floats so the plane is amphibious, and could easily land at Moultonborough or Laconia airports and fuel up, which would be much more convenient.........

You can figure roughly 8 - 9 MPG for a Cessna 180. It depends upon load, wind, and speed which have a significant impact on fuel burn.

Maybe they fueled the airplane this way because the fuel was cheaper than what they would pay at an airport. I know some boat owners fuel their boats from cans or the containers on wheels that hold about 20 gallons just to save from paying the high price at a marina.

I am just not sure I would jump to the conclusion it is a stunt.

[ITD]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

So curiosity got the better of me, I am not sure what plane is picture but to understand how much fuel a Cessna 180 would hold I decided to look it up... it appears a Cessna 180 holds between 55-60 gallons.... there was a long range option that added an additional 20 or so gallons of capacity.

With that said 6 5 gallon cans would give you 1/2 tank of fuel..... what that equates to for flight time I have no idea.....

When you look at the argument that ensued over crating a official runway, and float plane base in 19 mile bay, this looks like a stunt to me, to push the limits of what is allowable, to try and prove a point. From the photo, I can see the wheels on the floats so the plane is amphibious, and could easily land at Moultonborough or Laconia airports and fuel up, which would be much more convenient.........

Pilots think of fuel burn more in time aloft than miles per gallon. If it is a 180, it probably burns about 13gals/hour at 75% cruise. So 1/2 tank would give you a little less than 2 hours flying time to land with the faa required legal reserve. Not sure how fast it flies, but I would guess you could go 200 miles.

Not sure why this guy opts to fuel like this, there are many potential reasons. My best guess is that he has an STC for autogas (car gasoline) and saves himself a couple of bucks a gallon doing it this way.

I can almost guaranty that this guy is not doing this to irritate you or someone else or as a "stunt". Think positive thoughts.

[C-Bass]

If he has the ability to run that off of Autogas, which I never knew you could convert it but, I haven't flown light GA aircraft in a long time, he is saving a ton of money. 100LL which is the normal fuel for a light piston aircraft will run $6-7 a gallon.

[ITD]

Originally Posted by C-Bass

If he has the ability to run that off of Autogas, which I never knew you could convert it but, I haven't flown light GA aircraft in a long time, he is saving a ton of money. 100LL which is the normal fuel for a light piston aircraft will run $6-7 a gallon.

Certain engines can run on regular gasoline. But he's doing a lot of work, spending a lot of time, to save $60. I'm figuring from the time he puts 6 5 gallon jugs into his car, gets the gas, drives to the lake, lugs the cans from the car to the shore, lifts them up to the wing, empties them, then brings them back to his car, he's almost 2 hours into it. 30 gallons of gas weighs 180 pounds, that's a good workout for most people.

[The Real BigGuy]

Originally Posted by ITD

Certain engines can run on regular gasoline. But he's doing a lot of work, spending a lot of time, to save $60. I'm figuring from the time he puts 6 5 gallon jugs into his car, gets the gas, drives to the lake, lugs the cans from the car to the shore, lifts them up to the wing, empties them, then brings them back to his car, he's almost 2 hours into it. 30 gallons of gas weighs 180 pounds, that's a good workout for most people.

He’s not picking the gas up and driving it. pier 19 store has a cart of 6 5gal containers for him. They just wheel it up the road.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by ITD

I can almost guaranty that this guy is not doing this to irritate you or someone else or as a "stunt". Think positive thoughts.

I didn't mean stunt necessary in a negative sense. If this person is who I believe them to be, they are doing it to show that right now breaking no laws they can re-fuel their plane in 19 Mile Bay. I personally think it is being done to see if someone complains.... While the efforts to get a runway designation, and establish a float plane base appear to have stopped. I think that has only happened in the active sense. I believe we will see a continued push for this in the future.... The more activities that can be recorded over time as happening in the area, legally the better the chance are in the future for the agenda the desire to go through...... I personally don't understand all the objections... I think that it would be a nice feature for the area.....

[ITD]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

I didn't mean stunt necessary in a negative sense. If this person is who I believe them to be, they are doing it to show that right now breaking no laws they can re-fuel their plane in 19 Mile Bay. I personally think it is being done to see if someone complains.... While the efforts to get a runway designation, and establish a float plane base appear to have stopped. I think that has only happened in the active sense. I believe we will see a continued push for this in the future.... The more activities that can be recorded over time as happening in the area, legally the better the chance are in the future for the agenda the desire to go through...... I personally don't understand all the objections... I think that it would be a nice feature for the area.....

Thanks for explaining, if indeed that's what this guy is doing, he has way too much time on his hands.

[The Real BigGuy]

Originally Posted by ITD

Pilots think of fuel burn more in time aloft than miles per gallon. If it is a 180, it probably burns about 13gals/hour at 75% cruise. So 1/2 tank would give you a little less than 2 hours flying time to land with the faa required legal reserve. Not sure how fast it flies, but I would guess you could go 200 miles. .

The 180 w/o floats tops out at 170. I’m guessing that the drag from floats probably reduces that 5 - 10 mph.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[ITD]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

The 180 w/o floats tops out at 170. I’m guessing that the drag from floats probably reduces that 5 - 10 mph.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

I'm guessing closer to 110 knots or a little less than 120 mph with the floats on. Those introduce a lot of drag.