| The Met-Co-Aire tip tank system is considered one of the best on the market today. It is simple in design, yet extremely reliable and efficient. The tanks are incorporated directly into the high performance wing tips, thereby giving you the aerodynamic benefits of the Hoerner design, along with the many flight and safety advantages of having additional fuel on board. Total capacity is 48 gallons-24 in each tip. They are constructed of reinforced fiberglass covered with a white gel coat. The fiberglass construction gives Met-Co-Aire the ability to form the most aerodynamically efficient shape possible, yet still maintain the structural integrity of a metal tank. These tanks have a far longer life than bladder or metal constructed tanks plus they are easily repaired if damaged (say by an errant fuel truck). Net weight increase is only 25 pounds. The system was designed with two basic goals in mind: Make it simple and make it virtually foolproof. The system is entirely gravity fed. As the drawing shows, the Met-Co tanks replace the conventional wing tips currently on your aircraft. Using the preformed lines provided with the kit, fuel is routed from the tip tank around the outboard main tank to where it interconnects with the fuel line coming out of the outboard tank. The line tees in here with a one-way check valve to prevent overflow of the outboard main tank and THAT'S IT! There is no change to the fuel selector. When you select the outboard tank you are drawing fuel from both the tip tank and the main tank simultaneously. A placard is provided for the cockpit gauge to show the increased fuel capacity. In the case of an Aztec, they go from 36 gallons in the mains, plus 24 extra in the tip, for a total of 60 gallons of fuel per side! The fact that the tank is entirely gravity fed makes it virtually foolproof. Its simplistic design makes installation extremely easy. Remember there are no boost pumps or transfer pumps to hook up. (Or to fail!) Average installation time is only 25 hours. Finally, it's important to note that the Hoerner design "squares up" the wing tips. This allows for ample lift area, yet creates an overall reduction in wing span by a few inches. Consequently, a PA-23 using Met-Co tanks would be much easier to maneuver into a hangar. Model Availability: PA-23, -160, -250, -235 |
Airframe Parts - Wing Tips - Apache
