American Bonanza Society

After refueling, should you sump the fuel tanks immediately or wait for possible water contamination to settle?

In this Tuesday Tip with Tom, Tom Turner explains why both approaches have value and shares his personal routine for checking newly added fuel.

You’ll learn:

⛽ Why gross fuel contamination may be detectable immediately after refueling
💧 Why water may need additional time to settle into the sump drains
⏱️ How fuel depth and the location of the filler caps can affect settling time
👀 Why observing the beginning of the fueling process is important
✈️ Why Tom waits until just before boarding to perform his final sump check

There’s no harm in checking immediately after fueling, but allowing more time before the final check may improve your chances of detecting water before flight.

Please take us back! Thank you to everyone that made our time at EAA so special! See you all next year❤️

Taking off from a high-density altitude airport? Proper mixture control can make a significant difference in your airplane's performance.

In this Tuesday Tip with Tom, Tom Turner explains several proven methods for leaning your Beechcraft® for maximum takeoff power, whether you have a factory fuel flow gauge, an altitude compensating fuel pump, a glass panel, or a turbocharged engine.

You’ll learn:

⛰️ Why proper leaning is critical for high-density altitude takeoffs
⛽ How to use fuel flow or fuel pressure target brackets
⚙️ When altitude compensating fuel pumps automatically do the work for you
📊 How G36 and G58 fuel flow targets simplify takeoff mixture settings
🔥 Why a target EGT of approximately 1300°F (700°C) provides an excellent cross-check for maximum horsepower
✈️ Special considerations for turbocharged and turbonormalized engines

Using the right leaning technique helps ensure your engine develops maximum available power when you need it most.

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Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Member Dinner on Tuesday! Also a big thank you to our volunteers that made this night possible!!!

Oshkosh 2026 show features. Come support the organizations that support ABS!

Oshkosh 2026 show features. Come support the organizations that support ABS! Bonanza & Baron Pilot Training

A flight from Panama to Oshkosh requires careful planning, especially in a vintage Bonanza with main tanks, auxiliary tanks and tip tanks.

In this Tuesday Tip with Tom, Tom Turner uses two ABS members’ G35 Bonanza as a real-world example of how to build a fuel management strategy for a complex fuel system.

You’ll learn:

⛽ Why returned fuel flows into the left main tank regardless of the tank selected
✈️ Why takeoff must be made using the left main tank
📊 How much fuel is considered usable in the main, auxiliary and tip tanks
⚠️ Why the auxiliary tanks should not be run completely dry
🔄 How quickly the tip tank pumps transfer fuel into the main tanks
🧭 Why every tank change also requires changing the fuel gauge source

Whatever fuel system your Beechcraft® has, review the POH and applicable supplements, create a plan that follows all limitations and closely monitor actual fuel use against your expectations.