Mustang Hydraulic System

[MkIV Hvd]

This is a really picky issue, but I've seen that being picky is what sets A2A apart from other developers, so here's the thing...

The vast majority of the time, I have to top up the hydraulic fluid in the hangar before flight along with the oil and coolant, but I very rarely have to repair a hydraulic leak. I completely understand the oil and coolant, but having been a tech sales guy in the fluid power industry for the last 25 years, I know that hydraulic systems are tight and do not ever need to be topped up unless there is a significant leak somewhere. A hydraulic system is not one that you just top up and continue to use on a routine basis, as the other thing I know about hydraulic systems is that a leak can only get worse...usually instantly and catastrophically at the exact wrong moment. With that in mind in a real world scenario, the first time that I noticed the hydraulic fluid was low, I'd be disassembling the airplane if I had to, to find and repair the leak.

Just a thought with "As real as possible!" in mind...

Cheers,
Rob

[DHenriques_]

This is a really picky issue, but I've seen that being picky is what sets A2A apart from other developers, so here's the thing...

The vast majority of the time, I have to top up the hydraulic fluid in the hangar before flight along with the oil and coolant, but I very rarely have to repair a hydraulic leak. I completely understand the oil and coolant, but having been a tech sales guy in the fluid power industry for the last 25 years, I know that hydraulic systems are tight and do not ever need to be topped up unless there is a significant leak somewhere. A hydraulic system is not one that you just top up and continue to use on a routine basis, as the other thing I know about hydraulic systems is that a leak can only get worse...usually instantly and catastrophically at the exact wrong moment. With that in mind in a real world scenario, the first time that I noticed the hydraulic fluid was low, I'd be disassembling the airplane if I had to, to find and repair the leak.

Just a thought with "As real as possible!" in mind...

Cheers,
Rob

Generally speaking the 51 didn't leak hydraulic fluid much unless there was a problem. Something that DID cause hydraulic leaks was not lowering the flaps and pulling the fairing door release handle out during shutdown. This of course left pressure in the system and when parked on a hot ramp this combination could easily (and almost always did) cause leaks at the coupling joints along the hydraulic lines.
Mustang operators who were guilty of doing this were potentially faced with a rather large bill to replace hoses. The main company that supplied hydraulic hose replacement for the Mustang was Aeroquip Hoses.
Dudley Henriques

[MkIV Hvd]

Generally speaking the 51 didn't leak hydraulic fluid much unless there was a problem. Something that DID cause hydraulic leaks was not lowering the flaps and pulling the fairing door release handle out during shutdown. This of course left pressure in the system and when parked on a hot ramp this combination could easily (and almost always did) cause leaks at the coupling joints along the hydraulic lines.
Mustang operators who were guilty of doing this were potentially faced with a rather large bill to replace hoses. The main company that supplied hydraulic hose replacement for the Mustang was Aeroquip Hoses.
Dudley Henriques

Yep, that makes perfect sense...no leaks without an issue of some type.
I'll bet Aeroquip was fine with the hose sales but I'll also bet that they never got the sale twice for that reason from the same owner/operator

Cheers,
Rob

[DHenriques_]

Generally speaking the 51 didn't leak hydraulic fluid much unless there was a problem. Something that DID cause hydraulic leaks was not lowering the flaps and pulling the fairing door release handle out during shutdown. This of course left pressure in the system and when parked on a hot ramp this combination could easily (and almost always did) cause leaks at the coupling joints along the hydraulic lines.
Mustang operators who were guilty of doing this were potentially faced with a rather large bill to replace hoses. The main company that supplied hydraulic hose replacement for the Mustang was Aeroquip Hoses.
Dudley Henriques

Yep, that makes perfect sense...no leaks without an issue of some type.
I'll bet Aeroquip was fine with the hose sales but I'll also bet that they never got the sale twice for that reason from the same owner/operator

Cheers,
Rob

That's a good bet. In the time I was active in the Mustang community I knew only one operator who had this issue. The cost was no problem for him but the razzing he got from us was worth the price of admission. LOL
DH

[MkIV Hvd]

That's a good bet. In the time I was active in the Mustang community I knew only one operator who had this issue. The cost was no problem for him but the razzing he got from us was worth the price of admission. LOL
DH

I can well imagine...pilots can be a cruel group that way...

[P40 Master]

The hydraulic handle can catch you out if you dont use the checklist or fly the P51 often. its part of my warm up scan.