How could you increase range in a small airplane like a piper seneca or a cessna if it is even possible.?

Question

I am not a pilot and one of my friend asked me this question. I was hoping to get some answers from a real expert.

Answer 1

1, lean the mixture until the EGT gauge tells you thats enough.
2. fit a modern cooling kit to the nose.
3. Ensure the airframe is free of all dings, scratches and bumps.
4. If you fly from a concrete runway, make sure that wheel spats are fitted.
5. Fly at max endurance speed.
6. Climb at published best climb speed.
7. Carry out your FREDA checks every 15 minutes.
8. Fit ferry tanks.
9. Fly without passengers or luggage.
10.Go on a diet.
11.Always fly in a part of the world where it is cold and dry.
12. get rid of that old, thirsty Avco lycoming, or Continental and fit a new diesel engine.
13. Carry out number 12 and then do all the rest.

Enough for you to think about?

Answer 2

For a Cessna check out http://www.flintaero.com/. I have installed many of these tanks and they are very good quality. The Seneca can be modified to carry more fuel, however the Seneca already has a terrible useful load capability. The engine-nacelle fuel tanks offered by Tom's Aircraft (STC SA2205SW, originally by Nayak Aviation) are auxiliary tanks and fuel must be transferred into the mains to be used, a process which takes just over an hour for their entire 30-gallon capacity. However, there are no gauges or indicators whatsoever of fuel level or fuel transfer. So the only possible way to "know" whether the fuel transferred or not is to watch the aircraft's factory fuel gauges and determine, after an hour of flight where you've added 30 gallons and burned 22-24, whether it looks like the gauges indicate roughly 3-4 gallons more per side than they indicated an hour before.

Answer 3

I'm no expert, but I've read some about aviation.

First - the best thing to do is reduce weight on the plane. Less weight to haul means less fuel needed to move it.

Second - fly conservatively. You get better gas mileage in a car if you accelerate slowly, coast to stops before using the break, and don't drive overly fast. The same works in a plane. Climb slowly, cruise at a sensible speed, don't bank hard, fly as directly as possible towards your destination.

Third - reduce drag. Drag is the biggest energy sapper on a small airplane. Seal gaps between the wing and ailerons, or the tail and elevators. Use fairings at the wing roots. Be sure the seams around the doors, engine cowling, etc. are small and tight. Find or make some sort of fairing for anything attached to the hull - usually antennas, wing struts, etc. Add wheel pants if you don't have them.

Fourth - add more fuel tanks. Some planes carry fuel in a tank in the fuselage. Others carry fuel in the wings. Adding more tanks means you can have more fuel on board, hence a longer flight time and range. However, this has to come out of the total payload, and it doesn't do much good to be able to fly for 12 hours if you still have to pee every 3-4 hours.

Fifth - you can optimize the engine/prop combination for fuel efficiency. If the plane has a huge engine on it, it won't necessarily go faster, but it will use fuel at a faster rate. And different props are cut for different purposes. One may generate a lot of power and let you climb like mad, but not go very fast. Another might be a speed prop - you'll move like a scalded cat, but you won't climb as fast as the power prop might. Others are cut to give you the best fuel economy. Most fixed pitch props are a compromise between speed, power, and fuel economy.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Since you didn't say anything about cost or operating efficiency, the simplest way is just to add more fuel. This is done with great regularity whenever light planes are ferried to Europe or Asia. Extra fuel tanks (ferry tanks) are fitted in the cabin area, a special dispensation is obtained from the FAA for a one-time overweight takeoff, and off it goes. Sometimes the seats are shipped separately......

Answer 5

I would think that decreasing take off weight is the first thing. Maybe engine mods or a different propeller could be an option but this is only something to be done by the planes original manufacturer. And by all means nothing is to be done that sacrifices safety. Because the funny thing about a flight problem is that you will allways be the first one to the crash site..........

Answer 6

easy, fly with tail wind.

and here a trick:when entering in a thermal, bank 10 degree and search for the midle of the termal.

it can boost a small cessna up to 10'000 feet in a few minutes...(i did it and it work, I stoped at 7000feet)
look at your VSI and fly at minimum rate descent (around 60-70knots ) on a cessna 152.

Answer 7

Reduction of weight is a start...

There may be some aerodymanic upgrades which will reduce fuel consumption.

A larger tank(s) will also increase range.

Answer 8

You and your friend are a pair that beats a full house!!!!!. I have slightly used Briggs & Stratton engine (from my lawn mower) that gets a 1/4 acre per litre of fuel. Cheap. no guarantee though.

Answer 9

Weight reduction on take-off, low-pitch propeller, aftermarket wing-tip fuel tanks...other than that find some favorable, high winds and lean the **** out of it.

Answer 10

you can get to a high altitude and then kill the engine and glide for long distances, then turn the engine back on and get up and repeat the cycle over and over.