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Mixing Tank Set-up for XC flying    by Steve Wright        Published  April 2004

This article is intended as a guide and help to show how to set up an "Accufill" type fuel mixing can for bringing along as a fuel mixer and flight-deck combined.

What you need

One Accufill mixing can

Three safety clips, one small and two medium size

One length of lightweight webbing or cord, with a loop at either end, long enough to pass between the lower shackles on the unit's swing arms or shoulder strap uprights, with one swivel trigger hook or similar, loosely attached (held in my left hand in the pic, right).

 

The pics here show the fixing method around the lower shackles of a swing-arm type unit, e.g Vortex, PAP, AV8ER, etc. A simple knotted, buckled or stitched loop at one end, which can be permanently left attached to one of the swing arm shackles, and at the other end a small safety clip or similar quick-release karabiner to clip into a larger one left on the lower shackle, just to make it extra easy to get in/out of the seat and attach the tank thereafter. PLEASE NOTE: this webbing (or braided cord) should be LOOSE, not tight, but in any event there should be no unnecessary pressure on the swing arms during flight, as the tank will be sat on your lap, whether full or empty. It is merely to stop it from falling to earth when airborne! The moment your swing arms come up at launch, the weight of the tank (full or otherwise) is taken by the wing,  through the swing arms, and not the pilot. This pressure only lasts as long as the take off run, as once you are airborne, it is sitting on your lap once more.

 

 

Tank modifications: All you need are one safety hook or a similar karabiner, drill a hole in the plastic (as shown, right) to allow the same to attach, and one cable tie and a ring to attach the other end (to the trigger hook on the webbing).

 

Tank in situ: you can see how it will be attached,  using the safety clip on the tank (on to the webbing between the swing arms), and the trigger hook on the webbing already links into the ring near the fuel cap. The caps are retained with a length of cord, and with some strips of velcro where to attach a vario (note the easy viewing angle), phone or gps, camera, etc. Easy!

 

 

Syphon assy: My flying buddy Jim Addison very kindly gave me a spare fuel cap from the manufacturers of the tanks (available Stateside), to which I have added a "hozelock" threaded tap end adapter, and fitted a length of tubing to the click-on part of the assembly. I checked beforehand that the tap (white, threaded) fitting would fit inside the top of the fuel tank when the modified lid was screwed home, which it would, provided one is careful with the drilling of the hole for centralizing the assembly. A little plumbers ptfe tape and a soft washer will prevent the hole from leaking, but do try to find the best matching drill size for the hole that you eventually cut, as this is the key to minimizing risk of leakage. This may not really matter too much if like me you carry an extra cap to do the refuelling part with, but if a job's worth doing..........!

 

So! Now it's even easier to carry spare fuel, and/or mix it in situ, and refill in the field, as well as having a good area to store the camera and instruments.

 

I hope this may help persuade others into trying XC flights; the tank shown is available from AV8ER, or direct from the US manufacturer.

 

I have replaced the tetra can tank I used for this one, which sits more easily and lower on your lap, enables the vario  to be seen more readily and is much, much more convenient for mixing up fuel.