|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 21, 2012 9:42:17 GMT 12
Hi there,
Does anone out there happen to have a pilots manual for the Lockheed Hudson IIIa?
There are some details I'd like to check on regarding fuel tanks such as order of use, duration, capacity, etc.
Can anyone look up what the pilot's notes say, please?
Cheers
Dave
|
|
|
|
Post by vs on Feb 21, 2012 13:50:13 GMT 12
Have you tried to see if there are any RAF pilots notes avaliable for that kind of Hudson? I think the RAF museum sell them
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 21, 2012 15:10:09 GMT 12
I'm hoping someone here already has a copy of the pilots notes, and can answer just a couple of questions. I don't really need to buy the book as i won't be flying one any time soon. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by denysjones on Feb 21, 2012 19:35:47 GMT 12
My info is from the US RA-29/29A (Hudson III/IIIA) TO 01-75AB-1 Dave so hopefully it'll apply.
Tank usage is StbdFwd-PortRear-PortFwd-StbdRear.
Capacities are 150USGall (125ImpGall) for the fwd and 171USGall (143ImpGall) for the rear.
All bar 100USGall (83 ImpGall) can be dumped (and the fact you really need to know..at a rate of (89USGall/72ImpGall per minute).
Consumption varies (all USGall figures) but sample figures for the engine RPM of 2300 are
SealLevel to 6000' 231GPH
9000' 224GPH
12000-15000' 210GPH
20000' 169GPH
That enough for you?
cheers
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 21, 2012 19:59:13 GMT 12
Brilliant, thanks Denys.
Actually additionally, when our Hudsons flew from Whenuapai to Plaine des Gaiacs, and then onto Santo, in October 1942 Norfolk Island was not open, so that meant they had to carry additional overload tanks in the bomb bay. Have you any idea if these were a standard Lockheed product supplied with the aircraft to buyer? If so, what capacity were they?
If non-standard, any ideas what sort of tanks they used? Where they came from? And did they get given back afterwards?
|
|
|
|
Post by denysjones on Feb 22, 2012 17:53:55 GMT 12
No probs Dave.
The Pilots' Handbook makes no mention of auxiliary tankage but the Erection and Repair Manual (TO 01-75AB-2) has a section devoted to it.
There is provision for a tank in the bombbay of 250 USGall (208ImpGall) and one in the cabin of 134 USGall (112ImGall). Interestingly the latter appears to fit above the ventral gun bath and so presumably renders that u/s.
I can't figure out if they have to be installed as a pair or as you want. They are plumbed in as a feed mechanism only and are not integrated into the emergency dump and so the manual emphasises that they must be drawn down first.
To draw fuel from each of them requires differing settings of various valves so it must have been a very manually process to monitor the fuel used/left and to cut over from one to the other and then back to the normal fuel system.
Adding to that is the fact that the pilot has no gauge to say what's in the aux tanks but each of them is equipped with a simple stick gauge.
As the Hudsons, as far as I know, were all shipped here then they presumably didn't come with them fitted (but who knows for sure) so you're right to ponder on their source and disposal.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 22, 2012 18:15:15 GMT 12
Thanks very much Denys. On thinking about this I actually seem to recall one or two veterans telling me that the tanks for that long ferry were fitted into the cabin. They may not have required the extra fuel of the bomb bay tank.
I also think that this might have been the only ferry that route without Norfolk Island as others went via Fiji before Norfolk opened. I wonder if maybe the tanks were borrowed from the RAAF perhaps. Or the USA. I will have to see what I can find. Unfortunately key people I could have asked are now no longer with us.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 24, 2012 13:28:57 GMT 12
Denys, I have just been doing the maths on those tank capacity and duration figures. With the four tanks added up, and divided by the 231 US Gallons per hour consumption between sea level and 6000 feet (where most patrols were flown) I make it that they had a duration of just 2.77 hours on the standard tanks. Or 2 hours 40 mins approx.
This baffles me a bit as many operational flights lasted longer that this, some at four hours. The Hudson did not carry droptanks under the wings like the PV-1's did. And on ops there won't have been a tank in the bomb bay as that had bombs and depth charges in there. Did they carry a cabin tank as standard fit in the islands? Or perhaps did the pilots feather an engine and fly patrols on one donk to save gas and eek out the time in the air? I have not heard of either these scenarios happening so I'm rather confused.
Have I got the maths wrong?
|
|
