Bladders, 54 or 64 gallon

[teethdoc]

54 or 64 gallon?  For the flying I do, 54 gallons would be fine, but I'm thinking postential resell, 64 may be more desireable.  It would cost a few thousand more for the extra 10 gallons.

 

 

(THIS IS NOT A DEBATE ABOUT BLADDER vs. NO BLADDER!)

[Rwsavory]

I would outfit the plane for your needs, not those of a would-be buyer later on down the road.

[Seth]

64 - adds versatility.  It's the number one speed mod - make the stop or fly on.  If it's just you and one other passenger (usually 90% of flights in Mooney's) then it won't be a useful load issue if you find a place with cheap fuel and tank up.

 

Not having to make a stop because you have the extra fuel on board or sweating into headwinds, the 10 extra gallons makes a difference.

 

Even if your personal bladder is an issue, for the cost of the extra 10 gallons while in there putting in the 54 bladders, just add the extra and get 64.  It may not "help" the resale but, the 54 may "hurt" the resale.

 

-Seth

[Bob_Belville]

My E has had bladders, 54 gal, since 1997. I have considered adding the extra 5 gallons per side. It might save me a fuel stop between NC and ME but I always come back to the reality that I really don't want to fly more than 4.5 hours without a potty, stretch legs, break. Going to Kerrville with headwinds westbound I needed my personal fluids container just to fly 3.5 hour legs. (I was alone.) 

[orionflt]

My C has 48 gallons, I have considered the same question on several occasion (not that it makes a difference until i can afford to install bladders) but i basically decided that i would like 64 gal even if i didn't use then to their full potential. I hate being an hour from my destination and having to land to get fuel just because i couldn't carry quite enough for the trip.

 

brian   

[Nathan Peterson]

Doc,

 

I like the 64…the more options the better… I like fuel unless I'm on fire.

 

 

Nate

[smwash02]

Or you could go to 88.

 

http://www.monroyaero.com/lrupgd.html

 

I hope to do it at some point.

[Marauder]

My E has had bladders, 54 gal, since 1997. I have considered adding the extra 5 gallons per side. It might save me a fuel stop between NC and ME but I always come back to the reality that I really don't want to fly more than 4.5 hours without a potty, stretch legs, break. Going to Kerrville with headwinds westbound I needed my personal fluids container just to fly 3.5 hour legs. (I was alone.)

With kids traveling with me since 1991, the 54 gallons were just fine. Now that we are approaching empty nester status, I thought about upgrading them to 64 but it appears that as we got older, we have the personal bladder problem and not the kids

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Seth]

Or you could go to 88.

 

http://www.monroyaero.com/lrupgd.html

 

I hope to do it at some point.

He's decided on bladders but I like this - I have 98 gallon capacity in my airplane thanks to Monroy.

[Ron McBride]

One of the big reasons I chose an F, was 64 gallons instead of 52 or 54.  I don't do it often, maybe once a year , but a flight from CA to eastern OK. Can be done with 1 stop instead of 2.   It is 9 91/2 hrs. each way.   1 long day, or 2 easy days.  I can still do the 5 1/2 flights if need be.

 

Ron

[smwash02]

He's decided on bladders but I like this - I have 98 gallon capacity in my airplane thanks to Monroy.

 

Oh right, I forgot there's two sizes. I thought he just typo'd the 52 gallon wet wing.

[BigTex]

I have the 54 gallon Bladders which is perfect as my internal tank isn't good for anything past 3.5 hours. With the wife, I divide those numbers by two.

[fantom]

IMHO don't compound the bladder selection error with a second one. Bigger is better, more options are desirable, you don't have to fill them up all the time, and better to have 64 gallon capacity but not need it than to need more capacity than you actually have.

[takair]

I have 54 gallon bladders in my E. One thing to consider is the fact that the bladder ops manual suggests that the bladders should NOT be left empty. Not fully clear on the reason, does the bladder dry out, does it deform? As a result, even with 54 gallons, I try to keep them near full, which requires some planning if I need to go out with 4 people. 64 gallons adds two more bags, and I suspect the limitation would apply. They would also add a few pounds to your empty weight. For me personally, it is rare that I would need more fuel.

[jetdriven]

The real problem with a 54 gallon airplane is a suitable IFR reserve. It's worse with a /A airplane. You have to have fuel for the destination, alternate, and 45 minutes thereafter. You can fly 700-800 miles VFR, but IFR the range is more like 600.

[1964-M20E]

I have the 54 gallon bladders in my F. Get the 64 gallon bladders.

 

You can always put less fuel on board with the 64 gallon bladders if necessary.

 

You can't put more in if you have the 54 gallon bladders.

 

IFR reserves is the main reason to go with the 64 gallons.  Not that you want to be flying around for 5 hours in the plane but you can make that 4.5 hour flight without reserve worries.

[tony]

I have the 54 gallon bladders in my airplane.  64 gallons would be nice however, I don't think my internal single internal bladder could support the system endurance requirements

[N601RX]

I have 54 gallon bladders in my E. One thing to consider is the fact that the bladder ops manual suggests that the bladders should NOT be left empty. Not fully clear on the reason, does the bladder dry out, does it deform? As a result, even with 54 gallons, I try to keep them near full, which requires some planning if I need to go out with 4 people. 64 gallons adds two more bags, and I suspect the limitation would apply. They would also add a few pounds to your empty weight. For me personally, it is rare that I would need more fuel.

I had my bladders opened up a couple of years ago to replace the cork gaskets and tighten up the interconnect tubes. They were open and empty for a few days while I ordered the new gaskets and put them in. They were not as soft when I finished up as they were when I started.

[Piloto]

With the fuel prices these days you want to have more refueling options. Having longer range allows you to skip over those high price FBOs. If you have an M20J keep the original amount of 64 gallons as indicated on the POH. Otherwise your plane will have less range than that indicated on the POH, not to mention the marketing disadvantage of having less fuel than a standard M20J.

 

Jose 

[rbridges]

I have the 54 gallon bladders in my F. Get the 64 gallon bladders.

 

You can always put less fuel on board with the 64 gallon bladders if necessary.

 

You can't put more in if you have the 54 gallon bladders.

 

IFR reserves is the main reason to go with the 64 gallons.  Not that you want to be flying around for 5 hours in the plane but you can make that 4.5 hour flight without reserve worries.

 

 

that's what I was going to say.  Can't put 64 gallons in 54, but you can do the opposite.  I believe you can add the addition later if you're not sure, but probably costs more to do it that way.

[Oscar Avalle]

Where I fly there is only one place in the country where you can get avgas. So the 64 gallons were a really important addition.

[slowflyin]

I have 64 and rarely fly down to an hour reserve.   That being said, 64 adds a nice warm an fuzzy feeling when flying IFR.  I can hold or run an long, long way.  My SOP is to the tabs for VFR hops and to the brim for IFR trips.

[DrBill]

two years ago I had same decision.  I saved the money and went with 54.  I'd do the same now.  My trip to OSH needed  a fuel stop regardless.  Purchase for your intended mission.  If you want to fly LONG legs,  get the bigger bladders.  I don't make investments in MY plane for the NEXT owner.  They are all for ME ! What to I want.   ADSB coming soon !!

BILL