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I know they're as rare as hen's teeth, but wanted to ask if anyone has a set of Patroller Long Range Tanks for an early model 150, stored away, that they're willing to part with?

Thanks,

Jeff

Good luck with your search, Jeffrey.

I believe you're gonna need the patience of Job on this one.

Agreed. Thought I’d ask “just in case”.

I put an ad on barnstormers and called all the potential suppliers I could think of…

I have removed one of my long range tanks before. Can you make one? It doesn’t appear to be all that complicated. Maybe getting a field approval is just as difficult as finding a used one.

If I remember correctly the early 150’s don’t have extra room in the wing without cutting a rib in the wing, so the “best” thing to do is add an additional tank in the next rib section and link them together.

I’m clearly no expert on this, but I spoke with David Lowe and he suggested he could do the mod. It seems pretty involved - wings off and into the jig, new skins for the tank area, addition subtle mods described in another thread around flap bell-crank positions(?) and so on.

I’m told it’s possible, just bring tanks (which have been verified / repaired so as not to leak) and bring (more) money… or should I say, AMUs - Aircraft Monetary Units.

David is very knowledgeable when it comes to the early 150's. I actually had my right wing in his jig when I rebuilt it. During the overhaul, I upgraded to the long range tanks.

I feel that Peter Benway is somewhat correct with his statement, you do need to move a rib and install new flap bell-crank brackets bulkheads. You will also need need new fuel tank covers and to reskin the inboard upper wing skin. Where his opinion and mine differ is that I feel that since long range tanks were a factory option, you can modify the wings per the original factory installation to install the tanks. Using factory parts and drawings, you are simply installing a factory option and not making a major modification to the airframe. Going this route, you just need an IA to sign the 337 covering the modification. There is no need to get the modification approved by the FAA since it was a factory option.

If you can find a set of damaged 175 wings, they should have all the parts that you will need to convert your wings. I will have to check, but I am pretty sure I have the rib, bulkheads, and the flap bell-crank brackets to modify a left wing that are in excess of my needs. If you decide to go with this route, I would be willing to part with them.

If you look at the picture, the lighter green parts where I have my hand are the parts that you need for the long range tanks. If you look closely, you can also see that I added a leading edge landing light to my right wing.



I hope this helps

[quote=I hope this helps[/quote]

This helps immensely. Really nice work and love the extra leading edge light.

Thanks James.


RE: the 175 wings, I read 175 tanks had a higher amount of unusable fuel, apparently due to the fuel pickup location:

https://backcountrypilot.org/community/forum/latest/cessna-175-tailwheel-24577?start=20

I’m assuming that would also be an issue on the 150?

I know very little about the early 150's so remember that.

The LRT conversion in a '75 M model does require a structural change in the wings and you don't have to pull the wings to make this modification.

The existing tanks (in the M model) can be modified as well.


Mine were done in 1984 and it's held up very, very well over the ensuing decades.

I found a set of tanks, and David has confirmed that they are, in fact, correct!!

I'm trying to track down a parts list to allow the conversion.

- fuel tank cover
- inboard upper wing skin
- rib
- bulkheads
- flap bell-crank
- other parts?

James - I'd be happy to buy your excess rib, bulkheads, and the flap bell-crank brackets. Thank you.

Does anyone have part numbers and or a full parts list so I can chase the right side please? I'm working from the Cessna parts manual I found HERE [aeroelectric.com].