Fuel Flight Planning

dom1 · Post by **dom1** » 13 Jun 2006, 19:05

That's exactly what I did and I got exactly the 30000kg I asked for... But I only used 8779kg which is my point - this is way out from what I thought the previous post indicated was necessary :think:

I think I'll go with Joe's advice and start checking previous flights for how much to use...

Thanks for the help!

Chris Trott · Post by **Chris Trott** » 13 Jun 2006, 19:19

Then something's wrong with your flight model. You shouldn't be getting HS.748-like burns out of a VC-10. I'd double check that you've modified your Aircraft.CFG file properly per the panel manual.

dom1 · Post by **dom1** » 13 Jun 2006, 19:22

Sorry Chris but I'm using DM's VC10's without modification... The panel is designed for the aircraft, I'm not aware of any necessary mods for these...

Just looked up last time this flight was done and Ben Watson used 8422 kg so it's not my model...

Post by **TSR2** » 13 Jun 2006, 20:20

Heres a rule of thumb for the super.

Rate of climb has been very steady at 1800 fpm to FL320, burning roughly 2500kg per engine (10000kg/h) for the first 20 minutes. (although this is less below FL100 due to the speed limit)

I have been flying at FL320 with an IAS of 310 knots in fair weather. This gives a fuel burn of 1650 kg per hour PER ENGINE!!![see the fuel burn gauges on the fuel panel) (6600Kg/h). The decent the fuel burn averages about 3600kg/h.

So the flight to Rome (for example) roughtly a 3 hour flight, 20 minutes at 10000kg/h 2hr 20 minues at 6600kg/h and 20 minutes at 3600kg/h.

This is very approximate.

The flight where i alledgidly used 8422kg.... pass, because I'd just about to get to Belfast on that. I have had a few problems with the fly bet client, so maybe theres something in that as I never use the fuel figure from othe pilots flights, I just do a test flight before hand so i can get familiar with the fuel requirements and note it down in my little black book. Hope this helps, and sorry for the confusion.

dom1 · Post by **dom1** » 13 Jun 2006, 20:28

Which works out a little under 30000kg, bringing us neatly back to my first post...

So if my VC10 and Ben's both registered similar, lower fuel flow figures, I'd have to guess it's down to the client..?

At least I know I'm not going mad

Post by **RAF_Quantum** » 13 Jun 2006, 21:33

Hi Guys,

Some interesting conversations here which is why I started the thread in the first place. For FS9 I've found, as Rick has already mentioned I believe that to get fuel burn down in FS9 you HAVE to cruise as high as reasonably practicable and with consistent power settings. If you adjust power to cruise at a specific mach number at one altitude, you will use a different amount of fuel at a different altitude at the same mach number. I have found that you can significantly reduce the power setting with just a small loss of mach number but with much less fuel burn.

Even looking at some of the already flown VC10 flights there is no real pattern - 5hrs 30mins/2386nm = 29637kgs, 4hrs 54mins/2085nm = 33542kgs.

I'm pretty sure that the Client programme reads the fuel from FS9 with fsuipc - the client doesn't work out the fuel burn, hence the ability for those pilots of the Vanguard, that were initially using high fuel amounts due to incorrect aircraft.cfg, to fix the fuel consumption issue.

So the differences are probably down to 'pilot technique' - Dom, what's your secret ?

Rgds

John

DanKH · Post by **DanKH** » 13 Jun 2006, 22:19

You DO use all 4 engines right?...

Post by **TSR2** » 13 Jun 2006, 23:08

Oh yes.... well apart from when no.3 went TU out of Rome... no fun climbing on 3 engines in the 10.

dom1 · Post by **dom1** » 13 Jun 2006, 23:16

C'mon guys, you mean the VC10 wasn't designed as a glider...? No wonder I had so much trouble arranging a tow

I can't believe it's my technique though, I just did the usual and followed the checklist... I'm going to do the return leg now so I'll take a note of fuel usage as I'm going along and let you know if I work out the secret

(Just watch me run out of fuel on this leg...)

DanKH · Post by **DanKH** » 13 Jun 2006, 23:54

Seriously though, I think my "normal" fuel consumption lays around 1500 to 2000 kg/h/engine, so it seems as the same as Ben's. I normally fly with approx 80-82% power on cruise, and normally at FL330....