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Fuel Use Analysis Worksheet

Last updated over 3 years ago
26 questions



Propulsion Systems – Fuel Use Analysis

Formulas:

Airplane specifications generally include pieces of information about the range, cruise speed, and fuel capacity of a given airplane. These three items make it possible to calculate fuel consumption, range, and cruise speed.
Equations:
  • To find the time it takes to travel a given distance at a given speed, use the following equation:


  • To find the airplane's fuel consumption: For any problem after 14 do not subtract the 10% fuel capacity. Use the total amount of fuel divided by total time


Note:

Total fuel is considered the total amount of fuel excluding any fuel reserves. Reserves can generally be considered 10% of the total amount of fuel capacity for the airplane. Total time is the number that you calculated in using distance and speed.

NM = nautical miles = 1.15 miles = 1.85 kilometers
KTS = knots 1 knot = 1.15 miles/hour
FPM = feet per minute

Calculating minutes:

To calculate actual time you will need to take the answer you get from the formula and multiply it by 60. This will give you the total minutes. You will then subtract the hour minutes from the total minutes to calculate the minutes remaining.
Example: 3.27 hours = __________ Minutes The whole number of 3 means 3 hours. Take the decimal portion of the number and multiply that by 60. Ex. .27 x 60 = 16.2 round this to a whole number and you get 16 minutes. So the total time is 3hrs 16 min.
Procedure
Using the equations above, your calculator, and your ruler if necessary, answer the following questions. Show all your work, and be sure to label your answers.
1

You are an acrobatic pilot preparing for an air show. The air show is being held at an airport 500 nautical miles (NM) away. Given the cruising speed of the Extra 300 that you are flying, how long will it take to fly to the air show?

Hints: You will need to calculate the time. Take the distance of 500NM and divide it by the crusing speed of the extra 300. This gives you the time. To calculate the exact time you will note that the number before the decimal is the number of hours. Take the decimal portion of the answer and multiply it by 60. This will give you the minutes. Look above for an example uder calculating time.

1

In the situation above, will you be able to fly to the air show without refueling along the way? Why or why not?

Hint: What is the range for the Extra 300?

1

A Cessna Skylane has a range of 820 NM and a cruising speed of 140 KTS. How many hours will it take you to fly 820 NM? (Write down the decimal number somewhere, you will need it later.)

Hint: Distance divided by speed

1

Since the Cessna Skylane has a fuel capacity of 88 US GAL (including 10% in reserve – don't forget to subtract the 10% before figuring your consumption), how many gallons of fuel per hour does it use? Round to the nearest gallon.

Hint: You will need to determine what 10% of 88 is and subtract that from the 88. Take this number and divide it by the original answer from question 3 (the decimal not the time).

1

You are flying a Cessna Skylane at a speed of 120 KTS. You are flying on a trip that will take you 520 NM. How long will it take you to get to your destination? Label your numbers.

Hint: Divide the distance listed by the cruising speed listed for the Cessna Skylane. Besure to calculate out to the exact time. See above for how to do this in calculating time.

1

In the situation above, given that your Cessna Skylane holds 88 US GAL of fuel (with 10% held back as reserve fuel), how much fuel will you use? Round to the nearest gallon.

Hint: Multipley the answers you got for questions 4 and 5.

1

You are a WW-I Sopwith Camel fighter pilot chasing the infamous Red Baron. You are traveling at a speed of 115 KTS. You know that your enemy is 40 NM away from you. How many minutes will it take to reach him?

Hint: Divide the distance to the enemy by the speed and calculate for time.

Using the supplied infromation above, determine the distance from Mathews Memorial Airport to Sauk-Prairie Airport to Hartford Municipal Airport to Dupage Airport to Watertown Municipal Airport to Poplar Grove Airport then return to Mathews Memorial Airport.

If you right click on the image you can choose to open in a seperate window and then zoom in.

Calculate the following information for a flight along this route in a Cessna Skylane, in an Extra 300, and finally in the Sopwith Camel. Be sure to label all your answers.

HINT: you will need to determine what each hash mark on the map represents. I will take answers that are 1 or 2 miles off.

You may also do your own google map data if you would like but make sure you click on the red (red center circle) or blue airport symbols already posted on the map to get your distance.
1

What is the distance from Mathews Memorial Airport to Sauk-Praire in nautical miles? Round to the nearest NM.

Hint: make sure that you have calculated how many miles each hash mark represents.

1

What is the distance from Sauk-Prairie Airport to Hartford Municipal Airport in nautical miles?

1

What is the distance from Hartford Municipal Airport to Dupage Airport in nautical miles?

1

What is the distance from Dupage Airport to Watertown Municipal Airport in nautical miles?

1

What is the distance from Watertown Municipal Airport to Poplar Grove Airport in nautical miles?

1

What is the distance from Poplar Grove Airport then return to Mathews Memorial Airport in nautical miles?

1

What is the total distance for the round trip in nautical miles? From point 1 to 2 to 2 to 4 to 5 to 6 to 1.

1

What is your travel time in the air for the Cessna Skylane?
Hint: Take the total distance of the trip and divide by the cruise speed. Then make sure you calculate it into actual minutes and hours.

1

What is the total amount of fuel consumption for the Cessna Skylane? Do not take out the 10% reserve. Hint: Use the formula for fuel consumption. Calculate the gallons used per hour then multiply by the total time of the flight. Take the fuel capacity and divide by the (range/cruise speed). Then multipley the gallons used per hour by the total time for the trip.

1

How many airports does the Cessna Skylane need to stop at for refueling?

1

If need to refuel the Cessna Skylane, list the airports where you must refuel. If you did not need to refuel, put the word NONE.

1

What is your travel time in the air for the Extra 300?
Hint: Take the total distance of the trip and divide by the cruise speed. Then make sure you calculate it into actual minutes and hours.

1

What is the total amount of fuel consumption for the Extra 300? Do not take out the 10% reserve.
Hint: Use the formula for fuel consumption. Calculate the gallons used per hour then multiply by the total time of the flight. Take the fuel capacity and divide by the (range/cruise speed). Then multipley the gallons used per hour by the total time for the trip.

1

How many airports does the Extra 300 need to stop at for refueling?

1

If needing to refuel the Extra 300, list the airports where you must refuel. If you did not need to refuel, put the work NONE.

1

What is your travel time in the air for the Sopwith Camel?
Hint: Take the total distance of the trip and divide by the cruise speed. Then make sure you calculate it into actual minutes and hours.

1

What is the total amount of fuel consumption for the Sopwith Camel? Do not take out the 10% reserve. Hint: Use the formula for fuel consumption. Calculate the gallons used per hour then multiply by the total time of the flight. Take the fuel capacity and divide by the (range/cruise speed). Then multipley the gallons used per hour by the total time for the trip.

1

How many airports does the Sopwith Camel need to stop at for refueling?

1

If needing to refuel the Sopwith Camel, list the airports where you must refuel. If you did not need to refuel, put the work NONE.