[STEVE]

STEVE on September 3, 2023 at 5:43 pm #22225

Hi Dale,
I am moving the forum conversation over to my column in the magazine. 

I hope to get your attention, and to convince you to send larger picture files to our editor. 

500  mb or larger is preferred.

Her address is: Jen@aviationgroupltd.com.

Thanks
Steve

[Dale]

Dale on August 4, 2023 at 9:46 am #22126

As an aside – – The quality of the tanks, fit & finish, and welding was strikingly high. I don’t know what we necessarily expected, but the tank quality and all related parts exceeded our expectations by a high margin.

The tanks are also surprisingly very light. Like one hand / five fingers light.

[Dale]

Dale on August 4, 2023 at 9:42 am #22125

Griggs charged $12,000 for the two aux tanks, associated plumbing and fittings, and STC. That’s what we did, and we are having them installed at our shop while we are also having other work done.

Installed, Griggs quoted $18,000 ($12K + $6K install) for them to install them at their shop.

Timing has been about 2-3 weeks, which is about the same that Griggs estimated.

[STEVE]

STEVE on August 4, 2023 at 8:23 am #22124

Hi Dale,
Excellent.
Thanks for the update. Looks like a great product.
Do you have a estimate of the installation costs and times?

Steve

[Dale]

Dale on August 3, 2023 at 7:18 pm #22123

Update.  Delivered in very well packaged boxes, and initial install.

Attachments:

• 1.jpg
• 2.jpg
• 3.jpg
• 5.jpg
• 4.jpg
• 6.jpg

[STEVE]

STEVE on April 26, 2023 at 1:53 pm #21940

Hi Dale,

Wow, thanks for sending along all this information on the Griggs tanks. 

Truthfully, I’m not as up on the Seneca world as I need to be and didn’t know about the Grigg tanks.

So  you’re now in the position to sacrifice 180 # for one more hour of flight time. 

Do you need that kind of range for your normal mission?

Or is this for the occasional long XC?

Please keep me in the loop on your progress.

Thanks
Steve

[Dale]

Dale on April 26, 2023 at 12:58 pm #21939

Our shop has received the aux tanks from Griggs.  We are currently awaiting install.

Griggs was were very responsive in the admin / questions phase – even weekends and after hours, timely in delivery, and honest about all the costs.  No complaints so far.

We received the attached files in the purchase process.  So no install or flight information yet.  Filled, the tanks amount to ~180lbs, or about a person.  (Install weight not known yet)  This would seemingly provide one more hour of flight time at normal cruise fuel flow.

The attached factory-provided install pictures are somewhat difficult to view because they are rotated 90° L&R, but they provide at least some idea.

Attachments:

• PA34-AuxTank-FactoryInstallPics.pdf
• PA34-AuxTankFMS1986.jpg
• PA34-AuxTankInstallInstructions.pdf

[STEVE]

STEVE on April 26, 2023 at 12:39 pm #21935

Hi Dale;
Sorry someone hasn’t gotten to you sooner-I was hoping someone with actual experience would weigh in.

I do not have operational experience so the only help I can be is to refer you to http://www.griggsaircraft.com.

That’s company that manufacturers and sells the tanks.

If you’ve found more information, I would appreciate it if you can find the time to post it here.

153 gallons is quite a fuel load.

Best,
Steve

[Dale]

Dale on April 11, 2023 at 7:32 am #21930

We recently purchased the Griggs aux tanks for our 1977 Seneca II and are having them installed this spring. 

The plane currently has the existing factory ‘extended range’ tanks of 123 gallon total.  These additional nacelle tanks would make approximately 153 gallons, it appears.

Does anyone have flight ops experience with these aux tanks?

  – Dale