I am looking at a C180 project at the moment. It will require deskinning of the wings and fixing a couple of ribs. Was just wondering if, whilst the wing was apart, I could modify the wings to long range fuel tank status and fit long range tanks to it? I would also add monarch tip tanks and sportsman STOL. Wing already has WingX.

Cheers
Dave

Dave-

Flint does the Tip Tanks- not compatible with the WingX. Monarch does the Aux Fuel tank (which uses an electric pump to fill the adjacent main tank). Monarch's are also fiberglass and replace the bladder.

gunny

Gunny wrote:Dave-

Flint does the Tip Tanks- not compatible with the WingX. Monarch does the Aux Fuel tank (which uses an electric pump to fill the adjacent main tank). Monarch's are also fiberglass and replace the bladder.

gunny

Monarch no longer uses an electric fuel pump, they drain via gravity and a check valve. They are also no longer fiberglass, they are constructed of rotationally molded poly-something, akin to what a hardware store fuel can is made from.

Flint tanks are fiberglass methinks.

they are constructed of rotationally molded poly-something, akin to what a hardware store fuel can is made from.

That is good info!!!!! That means they are compatible with ethanol fuel for sure.

IMO - since you live in an area that can be quite hot, I recommend staying away from fiberglass tanks. I've personally encountered fiberglass tanks which deformed, presumably because of sitting out on a hot ramp repeatedly in the Arizona heat.

Guys,
Thank you for the info on the tip tanks and the construction to investigate.

Anyone else have info on, if I can modify the wings to take Cessna long range bladders?

Cheers
Dave

I'd contact this place in Indiana that repairs wings and see what they say.

http://www.airframecomponents.com/

Hi Dave

I chatted with the folks at Hartwig / Monarch about getting a set of their aux tanks in my 185 a few years back. Iirc, you could only install the aux tank on a standard range wing. They had two options for the install. 1. New modified bladders. 2. Modified your existing bladders by add nipples. Ha nipples

Looking at Mr. Parts Book, it’s probably going to cost a good chunk o’ change to modify the wing to take accept a long range tank. Will it cost as much as the aux tank mod? Not sure. However, I have seen some long range wings for sale here and there from 15k and up. Going that route will probably cost more than an aux tank setup.

If you do end up with a long range wing, you might be able to add an aux tank in a Wing-X extension install. I never asked about that as I don’t have a long range wing or Wing-X (yet). Need a new hangar first!!

I personally wouldn’t mind adding the aux tanks and calling it a day. It would be real slick to be able to fly from Minne to the ranch in Texas nonstop. Plus the 520 that I’m working on will hopefully drink more gas than my 470.