York Fuel consumption

[simondix]

Can I have some advice please. I am getting my type rating on the York. I am using way too much fuel. I am following the kneeboard instructionsfor rpm etc

Takeoff 3000 rpm psi 9. Just after takeoff down to 2650rpm and 7psi. Cruise at 7500' 2100 rpm and 4psi. Had 68kg on start loaded 820kg ran out of fuel on approach to EBBR. Obviously did not load enough fiuel but followed the amounts and burn rating on the Route board. I am using the three tank set up on the York. Standard setting on Flynet. What am I doing wrong?

Last flight used too much fuel as well.

[RAF_Quantum]

Hi Simon,

Power settings look good so you should be in the ball park with fuel per hour. Route fuel will depend on the routing you take and headwinds that you may encounter. One thing to bear in mind regarding fuel planning is that you must have contingency fuel onboard. If you flew in the real world and calculate that you were going to use @ 1500kgs fuel, how much would you load for the the flight - 1600kgs? I think not. When I calculate my fuel requirement I look at how much fuel I expect to burn and then add my contingency fuel to that. As a rough guide, you will need :

1. Estimated block fuel + 10%.
+
2. An amount for a diversion to an airfield say 30 mins away OR if no airfields within 30 mins the nearest one with good weather.
+
3. 45 minutes holding fuel.

I know it's unlikely that you will need to hold or divert BUT it is good practise to have that fuel onboard as a safety margin. Once you have bought the fuel for 2. and 3. and you don't use it, you will only need to buy the amount of fuel for 1. as the other fuel should always be left in the aircraft. Plus it is a courtesy to leave more than a few vapours for the next pilot. Once you get used to the aircraft you will see how your useage is, compared to flights by other pilots. It may be that you are flying at a lower altitude than someone else and achieving a slower TAS and a higher fuel burn.

Regards

John

[simondix]

Just did the training flight to EBBR from EGLL. Flew at 7500' on power settings as stated. Took 1hour 30 minutes and used 1926lbs of fuel. I should be inside the fuel per hour rate on those figures. See what happens on the way back.

Thanks for your assistance and advice.

[DaveB]

Hi Simon,

Note that the FSNav figures posted are never going to be on the button for every flight.. they're geared to represent an average which will move one way or the other depending on distance and altitude flown ;-) I always fly the York (and Lancastrian) at 7500ft and that alt is what the figures are based on

Glad you're getting close ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[stegs]

I seem to average about 640kg an hour on the York

Steve

[DaveB]

Hi Steve

Well.. I posted the FSNav cruise as 628kgh though the slightest touch one way or the other of boost or rpm and this can be over 630 and as low as 618 (the lowest I've seen) so 640 is a fair figure to aim for given much higher burn in the climb and reduced burn in descent ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[simondix]

Thankyou all for your help and advice. Did two training flights. Both took longer than the published duration but it looks as though I am keeping within the fuel consumption parameters.

[simondix]

I know this is a bit off subject, but, if you are flying a route in the York. It states in the notes if you have passengers you should fly at 7500'. When you get to a mountain range should you fly over, round or through? Although the York is capable of flying higher what about the passengers?

[DaveB]

Hi Simon

I'd say do anything but fly into it mate There are occassions where an aircraft would have been routed 'over' mountains higher than 7500ft but you can bet your bottom dollar that where practical, they'd have routed to avoid large, hard, pointy things ;-)

Re Speed..
Again Simon, this is a case of how long's a piece of string as far as FSNav is concerned. There are basically two methods of flying the York.. a) to dial in the required rpm/boost knowing that you are going to achieve at least the correct fuelburn per hour or b) to fly at a given speed (this equates to 170mph if my memory hasn't deserted me).

Flying by method a).. your speed will be less than published at the begining of the flight due to fuel weight though this will increase as you burn it off. Flying at a given speed (b) is much better for timings but will require constant adjustment over the length of the flight. It's very much swings and roundabouts. The published FSNav figures are based on method (a) and speed is calculated as an approximate for long distance flights (those of around or above 4hrs). They're there as a guide and are not set in stone so feel free to fiddle until you get a figure closer to what you want. I may have a look at them again as I think I adjusted the FSNav speed (for planning purposes) on a recent ferry from the US to the UK ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[simondix]

At present I think I'll stick to fuel burn. Thanks again for the reply.