First forced auto...

[Si Goodchild]

...was a success!

Spent about an hour practicing autos on Phoenix about 2 or 3 weeks ago and it paid off today. First flight of the day and after about a minute and a loop or 2 I was doing a fast flypast when the engine quit. Managed to hit the brakes, arrest forward speed and land on the postage stamp of mown grass at our site (the rest of our small field is starting to resemble a hay field!)

Once my heart stopped thumping I diagnosed a split fuel hose within the main tank that holds the clunk, meaning that the engine could only access the top 20mm of fuel in the tank plus the header tank. Did a quick repair with a standard bit of fuel hose which meant that I could return to normal (non inverted) flight, but I know I'm gonna have to take the tank apart again to replace the hose with something a bit more flexible as the standard hose is way too stiff and the clunk is sitting firmly on the bottom of the tank right now.

Any tips or advice would be welcommed.

Si

[Disc]

Normal Fuel tubing will become flex able overtime it doesn't take long once its sat in fuel and it bends to reach the bottom of the tank with the weight of the clunk. all my tanks have normal fuel tubing in them.

Well done on the auto

[Si Goodchild]

Good tip, thanks. The tubing that came out had a very thin wall thickness. I won't rush to change it then as any time spent inverted is pretty transient, so the header tank can handle the demand.

[Disc]

Good tip, thanks. The tubing that came out had a very thin wall thickness. I won't rush to change it then as any time spent inverted is pretty transient, so the header tank can handle the demand.

the thin tubing if its a raptor only lasts maybe a year if your lucky. but I think you'll find most people use the normal tubing in in their tanks and header tanks as well.

just take a cut off your refiller tubing to the same length and enjoy the rest of the day its nice out there!!!!

[DIJ]

I did my first auto when my raptor tank line split at the end of last year, and was suprised how much easier it was than in the sim. I have since replaced my clunk lines with the align tubing but its too early to say how long it will last. I might give normal line a go next time though, as others seem to find it ok.

[Mart61]

Glad the auto went well!

[GravityKills]

You should be able to get the tube from a shop, if you ask.
Here are the ones I use, the two on the right side in the picture - the outer one is the most flexible.

[Si Goodchild]

Thanks for taking the time to advise me, guys. (And take photos especially!) The original tubing was what came with the Raptor when I bought it second hand (but looking new), so I'm pretty certain that it's what comes in the kit. I've left the bog standard tubing in the tank for now and will restrict my time inverted until I'm sure it's softened up or I replace it with something a little better: I'll pop in to my LHS and watch the owner's expression as I ask for a 50p item! I might buy another 5L of optifuel to soften the blow for him, even though he insists there's no profit in that either.

Si

[Brian Gifford]

Thanks for taking the time to advise me, guys. (And take photos especially!) The original tubing was what came with the Raptor when I bought it second hand (but looking new), so I'm pretty certain that it's what comes in the kit. I've left the bog standard tubing in the tank for now and will restrict my time inverted until I'm sure it's softened up or I replace it with something a little better: I'll pop in to my LHS and watch the owner's expression as I ask for a 50p item! I might buy another 5L of optifuel to soften the blow for him, even though he insists there's no profit in that either.

Si

What - no pink?

[Si Goodchild]

?

Sorry, mate. You lost me there!

Si

[xygax]

Actually its Green this year...

Steve

[moonmanflyer]

Congrates on a sussesfull forced auto mate, well done