Running dry?

"Marc J. Zeitlin" wrote:

Jay wrote:

Although this thread *does* answer a question that has bugged me for a
very long time. I've often wondered how it was possible that so many
NTSB reports ended with "fuel exhaustion" as an explanation.

Now I know.

I don't really think that you do. As I noted, I can run a tank dry and
have anywhere from 2.5 to 5 hours of fuel (depending on how fast I want
to go) left in the other side - that's hardly a "fuel exhaustion"
danger - some airplanes don't carry that much fuel when they take off
full.

Marc J. Zeitlin

I have to agree with Marc on this. I know very accurately how much
fuel I have since I have run the tanks dry to "calibrate" my fuel
gauge (and engine monitor fuel gauge). And yet the closest I have
ever gotten to fuel exhaustion is about one hour of fuel remaining
with several airports between me and my final destination.

I will have to check that one hour number since I did make a fuel stop
in La Junta because my projected remaining fuel in COS was
unacceptable low (about 45 minutes between LHX and COS).

Frankly Jay if you do not wish to ever run a tank dry that is your
decision. I am not critical of it. However, I do not agree with your
assertion that running a tank dry implies the same sort of situational
awareness that leads to exhausting all fuel in flight and making an
off airport landing/crash.

Ron Lee