One well known aviation university teaches you to "fly out on the tank
you flew in on". The theory being that takeoff is not the time to "test"
whether a tank you just switched to is blocked, the fuel valve
malfunctioned, a tank is empty (cuz you forgot to check it), a tank you
just switched to is full of water, etc.

If you switch just prior to takeoff or just prior to runup, you have
about 1 or 2 minutes of flight until the carb bowl and gascolator
empties in a small Piper. Then, you get an empty fuel line or whatever
was in the other tank. Usually, you are not in a very good position to
deal with no fuel or contaminated fuel at the end of that short time period.

Opinions on this one vary. I leave the valve where it is and switch
after burning off about 5 gallons (climb to 2500' plus 10 minutes of
cruise).

Good Luck,
Mike

Journeyman wrote:

In article .com, Tony wrote:

have been in the owner's manual that said something like "switch to
most full fuel tank" before takeoff, and after run-up. That's the worst
possible time to change tanks.


Ack. Have to agree with you, but I think you misread the instructions.
I start and taxi on one tank, then run up on the other with takeoff on
the same tank as the runup. That way, you know you have good fuel in
both tanks.


Morris

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