To maintain lateral balance in airplanes that cannot simultaneously feed fuel from both wings, try to keep the tanks as equal as possible (within reason). For example: After takeoff, you might fly for half an hour on the left tank, and then an hour on the right tank, switching hourly thereafter. This should keep you from having more than a half-hour’s fuel imbalance at any given time. Many pilots mount a timer in plain view to remind them to switch tanks.
Leaning the Mixture
The performance, range, and endurance figures listed in the POH are based on a properly leaned engine. Most engines can be safely leaned at any altitude so long as they are operating at less than 75 percent power. (Consult your POH for information on calculating percentage of power.)
Leave a Reply