Hot Start Challenger 650 - Fuelling

Hot Start Challenger 650 tutorial series
A detailed look at the fuelling system, some common misunderstandings and traps.
Errors, Omissions, Clarifications:-
Error: "Fuel Valve Wing" - I meant to say "Fuel Wing Value" which would have made more sense. It's been a long day! Similarly, it's obviously an "Ejector Pump", not an "Ejector Valve"
Clarification: The fuel truck pump can be started before valve selection, however in the video I show valves first each time to clearly indicate it's the fuel truck providing the power to open the valves.
The fine print:
It shouldn't need to be said, but please remember these videos are for recreational simulation and entertainment purposes, not real world flight instruction.
Unlike other videos on the channel, I have been given free access to the Hot Start Challenger 650 as a result of extensive participation in the beta program. My videos are not intended to be an outright promotion of the product, but rather as informative tutorials. No payment has been received for the creation of this content. Thanks to Sašo Kiselkov and Goran Matovina for inviting me to the program and for being so receptive to feedback.
Help and support: forums.x-pilot.com/forums/for...

[@PKerusso]

I hope you will do a whole series on this wonderful airplane. Really enjoying it…

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

There's a whole series planned. The tutorials will show a full flight from start to finish, with some detail videos in the middle to focus on other bits, then I'll move on to specific procedures, airport training etc.

[@PKerusso]

@@ReflectedRealitySimulations - awesome. Thanks for the reply !Looking forward to it.

[@frysimulation]

What a great presentation you made. I am very surprised at the complexity of the fuel system on this aircraft. I have flown the AIRBUS , in both MSFS and X-Plane, and what a difference in fueling procedures. Thanks again

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Yes, it's a small aeroplane with several separate fuel tanks. The fuel system can be quite complex, but these study windows are designed to help pilots better understand the system.

[@79Niall]

Thanks again Graeme, when I buy this aircraft I'll actually know what I'm doing thanks to your efforts to train us.

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks Niall, you're welcome. It's a complicated aircraft initially, but like everything else once you know the basics it's pretty easy to get going. I'll show some of the more confusing stuff on the videos as I go.

[@henriksmids3134]

Thank you for dedicating time to learn us amateurs how to operate the plane, much appreciated!!

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks Henrik!

[@andrewrobertshaw1425]

Hi Graeme. Bought this bird a week ago. Your excellent videos have greatly helped me manage 2 full flights. Next stage is to do it online. Many thanks and much appreciated.

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks Andrew - glad the videos have been useful, the 650 is possibly the finest simulation of a civil aircraft seen and it's been a pleasure to be able to produce some content for it.

[@somewaresim]

Very detailed description of the fuel system. Thanks. Definitely going to get this aircraft soon.

[@Virtual-CPT]

Those study windows are really great. I had recently an issue with the fuel system and was able to solve it by looking at this window. It helped me to understand what to do. Even better, you can see the fuel flow in real time. I'm not aware that any other aircraft offers this level of detail.

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Exactly, they don't hide away the systems simulation, but rather make a feature of it! I'd love to see more developers adopt the same concept.

[@kbxt]

Excellent help, super concise, thank you so much!

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks for the nice feedback!

[@scandinavianairman2220]

Another great video! Thanks a lot

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

You're welcome, I hope it clears up some of the confusion about the fuel system on the Challenger 650.

[@djhaik]

Love it!! Keep 'em coming whenever possible ... Thanks for the hard work!!

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

More videos on the way soon!

[@ozpilot2]

Great video! I would just add the need to test the HL sensors using the shut off test button.

[@ericmartrenchard214]

I learned essential things a big thank you Eric (french pilot ) 😀

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks Eric, the Challenger fuel system is very complex for a smaller aircraft.

[@FUN-fy5dd]

Fantastic as always Graeme!

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks!

[@MoisesSimana]

This is invaluable information. I appreciate you taking the time to explain this. This also demonstrates the level of detail that has gone into the simulation. Please keep the videos coming. Even though I have not been able to purchase it I am actually learning as much as I can for when I am able to get my hands on the aircraft. Thank You.

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Glad you enjoy the Challenger content even without owning the aircraft. I hope to make a lot more content for this aircraft.

[@captwozza4817]

As usual, fantastic video! Can’t wait to get the Challenger in my virtual hangar - I’ll be able to get it set-up and flying in no time having watched your useful tutorial series. Very many thanks for all you continue to do for the flight sim community!

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks Warren, I'm trying to get the next video done asap!

[@mikedenker7556]

Great content. Thanks for this tutorial. It really helps. Looking forward to a lot more on this great plane.

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks very much. I've got a lot more content in planning.

[@MrScott_e]

Thank you for another outstanding video. Always informative and a must view for anyone desiring to learn all there is to know about this outstanding work of art. We’ll done, Sir!

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks for the nice feedback! Lots of interesting things to cover with the Challenger 650.

[@josdenis3684]

Another interesting tutorial. Greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks Jos, yes the fuel system on the Challenger may not be as complex as a 747, but it certainly has some interesting features.

[@ccacrislan]

excellent video, thanks, great job. I absolutely love the plane so far. Best simulation of any airplane for any simulator so far.

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks again. Glad you're enjoying the aircraft. The developers have done a fantastic job!

[@JanWS]

Awesome!!! Looking forward to the series - Just finished watching your epic 7 hour Twitch stream crossing the Atlantic, Montreal to Glasgow ...I think you streamed that 12 days ago? Wish I could have watched it live. Never a dull moment on that stream. Amazing information from everyone involved in the project.

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks Jan, I'm amazed anybody watched the full stream, but it was a fun trip, and having CaptCrash on audio for a lot of the flight made it a lot more interesting.

[@pablogomez1343]

Excellent video, thank you!

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Glad you liked it Pablo - the fuel system can be pretty complex, but once you've seen the basics it becomes pretty easy.

[@giammi52]

Amazing video. Thank you very much!!

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks, glad you liked it.

[@claudemiropacheco]

Thanks for this. Really a great video :)

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

My pleasure!

[@davidmontgomery3757]

Excellent!

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks David!

[@iandingle2866]

Great video I have been trying to solve the imbalance of fuel since buying the A/C had figured out the GPU must be running off this tank but could not figure how to resolve the problem. thanks alot

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Great to hear Ian. Yes the fuel system is pretty tricky on the Challenger so I was trying to cover most of the FAQs seen on the forum and Discord.

[@deesto]

Great Video! I have a question: So how do you and pilots plan to pump fuel in such a way that you don't get caught out with the Centre HL cutoff issue? (We've seen in this video how to do it so that we do get caught out, but not how to avoid it and do it right from the get go) Is it a matter of pumping fuel until all Aux tanks are full and leaving the truck fuelling in?

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Good question. All that matters is the fuel truck doesn't stop pumping until the required amount is reached. So if the fuel truck would not be able to finish fuelling with the fuel they have in the tank (like it would need two trucks), make sure the aux+tail filling can be done without stopping.

[@markbond18]

Great video. What are the recommended limits for the apparent pitchh indicator on the fuel page? I guess this should be as close to zero as possible?

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Thanks, glad you liked the video. Those apparent pitch and roll gauges are part of the simulation system rather than avionics, and as such don't have specific limitations. That said, refuelling on level ground is best!

[@somewaresim]

Just watched this again as it is go great. One question, I noticed at about 19:00 that the HL light is on for the right wing tank but not the left, even though they are both full. Is that a bug? After a minute or so, the right tank HL also goes off (after flashing for a bit). I was wondering where to get the 1.8 beta? Thanks Graham!

[@Nobody-od7no]

How does defueling operations work on the challenger Really good explanation btw

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Sorry for the delay replying, and thanks for the nice feedback. The defueling capability is not included in the simulation - the reason is defueling is not a normal function a pilot would perform. The engineers can do this, but it's very wasteful and expensive as the fuel typically has to be disposed of.

[@MrBigmak24]

Wonderful vid ! Just to be sure, does the engines are feeding automatically into the aux center tank ?

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

The aux fuel is pumped to the wings automatically when the engines are running and the wing tanks are not totally full.

[@iamwezlee1]

On the real aircraft it’s also important to ensure the aircraft is parked slightly nose down on the ramp if fuelling for full tanks. It can mean the difference of 1000lbs of fuel.

[@redrum425]

Does the High Level indicator only illuminate if the valve is open? At the end of the video, the left and right main HL indicators are off.

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

That's a really interesting question, and highlights a unique aspect of the simulation. The right tank is easy to understand. The APU was running, so over time the fuel was used so the high level was not longer triggered and the light went off. What you're seeing with the left tank is that this is a physical simulation of the fuel tank. Not just the capacity, but also the shape of the tank. The high level probe is "installed" in a specific part of the tank, and not simply looking at the percentage full value as most other sims do. As the other tanks fill and the aircraft weight changes, it will adjust its position on the ground (compressing the gear), just by a fraction of a degree in some cases, but enough to move the fuel from "touching" the high level probe, to not touching it. This will turn off the HL indicators. That feature is partly why those apparent pitch and roll indicators exist, calculating not just how much fuel is in each tank, but where in that tank the fuel is. Hope that makes sense?

[@redrum425]

@@ReflectedRealitySimulations That makes perfect sense. It just goes to show the detail in the sim.

[@JoakyFlyLevel]

how is the defueling????

[@ReflectedRealitySimulations]

Sorry for the late response. Defuelling is an engineering function, not something pilots can do so isn't available in the simulation at the moment. The developer wanted the pilots experience to be authentic, an as such if you overfuel the aircraft accidentally you can end up with a real problem, and that's what is simulated here.