EXPLODING FUEL BAGS?! The ultimate test

***NOTICE***. Clarification at 08:15 regarding how to connect the bag. It is most recommended to use the "breather" valve for fuelling as it can be used to easily insert fuel and also extract air from the top of the bag.
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Fuel bags are all the rage lately, especially in jets where they seem to be replacing traditional plastic / composite fuel tanks.
But how do these flimsy little bags replace our tried and tested systems that we have all been using for years? Are they really safe? How do they work? How do you fill them? And more importantly, how easily do they break? Are they scratch resistant? Can you burst them through over-filling?
Let's find out together!
-Fuel Bags, CMJets: cmjets.com
-Fuel Station, EL: www.smoke-syste...
#FuelBag #CMJets #SmokeEL #PickeringRC
Martin Pickering - PickeringRC MERCH!
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Martin Pickering

[@tazjets]

Martin, hello from Dubai. Great video! Filling the fuel bag from the turbine line is cumbersome. Best to use Jetcat Fuel Station and always fill in from the ‘vent’ line. Once the bag is full, the pump will cycle 2-3 times to automatically remove all the air. It works perfectly every time and you don’t need to have a T on the turbine line or a valve on the ‘vent’ line and try every time to manually remove the air…. I love fuel bags, will never go back to tanks

[@HermanKruisman]

My own pump removes the air from the tubing first, then fills and then removed any left over air. I never have any air inside the tanks this way. Has been working very reliable :)

[@GunterZ1]

You can also use the Ventline with the EL-FuelStation, so we suck any air out ,befor filling.

[@jlorenco]

Second the comment about using a fuel pressure system to fill bags. That’s really the only truly safe and most reliable method. No fancy fueling station needed really, simply add a pressure switch to any fuel station and get a safely full bag every time. Thank you for all the testing! That’s something we all wonder about but few ever endeavor to destroy a bag, so your contribution to the community is most appreciated!!

[@FarmerFpv]

I love the fuel bladders. This gives more peace of mind.

[@jamesvaliensi7706]

I would have done the burst test with water. Thanks for making the mess.

[@i3dm]

Very good video my friend. The Zavionix smart fuel Station will soon have an embedded pressure cutoff for fuel bags.

[@Cedric.landes]

Many Many thanks Martin !!! Very intresting video. all my questons about fuels bag are now disappeared !!

[@Nitzz97]

This is interesting, for sure. What's the best way to install it in the jet and secure it given the physical size of the bag changes? You have to have straps or something when flying inverted but as the bag empties, the straps are no longer taught on the bag. If you have to build an "enclosure", that weight must be considered as well but, clearly, you still lose the weight of the UAT. I'd like to see the proper way to install it in the jet.

[@MartinPickering-PickeringRC]

They come with slots down each side, so you just run a carbon tube down each side same as in the jig I had setup for the fill and pressure tests

[@danielschneider9787]

I like fuel bags a lot. If you use them you dont get back to conventional tanks. Its not just lighter, but you dont have to think about a vent line for air and it dont smell anymore. No fuel dripping on the field etc.

[@acw400]

I wonder what the fuel pressure does to the fuel pump calibration in turbine applications. Presumably as the bag deflates the pressure decreases and the pump has to go higher. Is that supported by all ECUs?

[@aerialbugsmasher]

I've wondered this too. I have done a bench test with my Xicoys where if I squeeze the fuel tanks the rpm will increase slightly but eventually goes back down. Can't tell if that's the fadec compensating or just the pressure reducing naturally after the initial squeeze on the tanks

[@wayneschenk5512]

When old is new again but a nice weight saving.

[@Gavs_rc_hobbies]

Ive noticed fuel bags/bladders are fairly popular in boats vas they can fit in thight spaces of the hull. Seem to be fairly resistant.

[@eastdave2]

How about using the correct fuelling jug, JetCat or Vspeak and then over filling is not an issue ever, bag only fills to preset pressure

[@JuanSanchez-jn9wg]

awesome video! the Fuel Station looks pretty awesome too :-)

[@stevenj.elliott1579]

Great video of something that I've often wondered about Martin with a surprisingly good outcome. However, I don't envy you with your clean up operation as you'll be smelling Kero in your workshop for weeks to come. I'm sure those plastic Totes come with lids. Lol

[@jimk8520]

I believe that the bag is two layers and each layer provides a different function. The inner one likely resists fuel exposure while the outside one provides the bag strength.

[@Dean_Stanley]

Great video! How do you compensate the CG with fuel?

[@bullitanaconda]

and how do you manage to install and secure this bladder in a plane? Zip ties and velcro straps are not an option like the conventional tanks

[@PulkaSkurken]

Well, i dont see my self replacing my tank setup for a bag setup in my exciting planes. i might go with bag setup if i get a new plane that is very very small inside the fuze. to make the installation easier in a small space. other than that i keep to my trusty old setup.

[@Fantus70]

I wonder why the Fuel Station doesn't have s pressure sensor that can detect an excess of pressure needed to fill the tank, stopping the pump when the pressure reach a certain amount. That would prevent the tank from exploding.

[@MARTINHOTT-nk7bk]

Martin pickering hola me podrías saludar soy tu fan Gracias a ti empecé a hacer 3D tengo un avión de múltiplex un parkmaster tengo 10 años y empezaste muy chico a las 5 acá en Chile tú me inspiraste para hacer todas las acrobacias ahora hago muy buenas acrobacias 3D Gracias a a ti

[@MartinPickering-PickeringRC]

Gracias amigo!! Un saludo muy grande y sigue disfrutando!!

[@MARTINHOTT-nk7bk]

@@MartinPickering-PickeringRC ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@stevegribbs4265]

Yes but you can’t see the air bubbles to shake out I’m confused.

[@digitalphoenix72]

The one I was gifted at Birth has worked so well, I'd love to see one inserted into a multi-million dollar metal flying killing machine😂

[@Frank-zg8ms]

Well FYI it has been done in many decades on beach crafts such as King Air and Bonanza 😂👍

[@digitalphoenix72]

@@Frank-zg8ms shows how much I know, our fishing boat had an old fashioned gas tank LOL, but it was just a little Smoker Craft😂 besides the shape of the tank, what benefit is there to use bladders? Make it easier to remove if the fuel goes bad?

[@sheeeene7]

My Christen Diffusion F22 had bags that were shaped to slot into the wings. I never used them as I was told they were banned in the UK. Also, if you overfill them, they could destroy the wing!

[@MARTINHOTT-nk7bk]

❤❤

[@stevegribbs4265]

What about a crash would it explode

[@bernardowens1648]

Explain why you didn't place the lid on top of the clear plastic "tote" you used for this experiment or more importantly, no lid or goggles for eye protection?????

[@digitalphoenix72]

Thats easy. 1) because if he closed it you couldnt see it for demonstration purposes 2) its almost a fully closed system with the breather tube the only way of spilling fuel. So PPE is not necessary unless its performative or done.with a sense of self-righteousness. If he did what you wanted him to do, everybody would be questioning whether or not the bag was really in the Box. He literally says multiple times "not very scientific at all", so if youre looking for peer read studies, he's given you the warning that you wont find it here.

[@bernardowens1648]

@digitalphoenix72 it was a clear container. You could see clearly from the sides. Placing the top on it wouldn't have restricted the view. If anything it would have been more dramatic with the spray contained to the inside. Your focus would have been focused more on the fuel bladder and not the liquid squirtting outside of the container.

[@MartinPickering-PickeringRC]

One easy answer… hind sight! I guess I kind of expected a catastrophic failure of the bag resulting in it “dumping” all the fuel, as opposed to the single pin prick point that squirted out at high pressure… my bad…

[@bernardowens1648]

@MartinPickering-PickeringRC no worries. I'm a retired aircraft mechanic for the Air Force so things like fuel and or hydraulics under pressure can be a dangerous and particularly harmful thing. Just curious.

[@digitalphoenix72]

@@bernardowens1648 yeah, I totally understand. Im a car/truck mechanic, and I hate dealing with pressurized fuel lines. I would've covered it myself, but when you look at comments on videos, people start to say its fake if its covered up.

[@stevegribbs4265]

I think it will shut off

[@HermanKruisman]

Very stupid system from SmokeEL. Empty the tank before filling it makes no sense. Just add a pressure sensor and detect it is full. I would NEVER use this from SmokeEL. There are so much more options available ;)

[@steveone9375]

not keen it looks a complete faf