Hawker TKS system effectiveness

dufur2003

dufur2003

Well-Known Member
My company is looking into buying a Hawker 850XP and the only real hang up I have noticed on the aircraft is instead of having a heated wing it uses TKS. Do any of you Hawker operators ever have problems of running out of TKS fluid before the flight is completed?
 
Nope. Never had any issues. Top it off before every leg, use it as it's designed to be used, and don't loiter in ice. Remember, anti/de-icing systems on EVERY airplane are intended to get you out of the ice, not hang out in it.
 
The TKS system seems great and I've read that it works really really well. Just curious, how big is the TKS fluid tank, how quickly does it pump that out when the system is active, and how much flight time in icing with the system active does that give you?
 
5.5 gallons (61 minutes) in a straight 800, and 10.04 gallons (85 minutes) in the 750/800/850/900 XP models. I THINK I remember being told that a full gauge may not necessarily indicate a full tank. If you have a truly full tank, you get something like 100 minutes of protection. The key is to not forget to reset the egg timer. The system runs at high flow for the first minute (maybe it's two) it's selected. If you keep running on high for one minute, and then one more minute, and then one more minute...well, you get the picture.

Prime it before EVERY leg. The check valves get weak and the fluid flows back down from the tail. Priming it gets it back up there and ready for use when you need it. It also lubricates the lines and cleans the bugs out of the pores.
 
To add, Ive been flying a 900XP around the last few weeks and we just did a 9 leg 4 day trip in and out of hurricane Sandy, essentially using TKS most of the time. We ended the trip with around 1/4 tank left and we used it a good bit.

If I remember you dont want to use it when its below -28 out. And ice wont form then anyhow. the Full line gives you 85 minutes, but if its topped off you should have around 105 minutes, not sure of the exact number. Its more of an anti-ice not deice, so keep that in mind.
 
Great information guys! The boss likes the size and look of the Hawker. Then I found out that it has TKS on it. While I understood that TKS works great I was just worried about going on a 3 hour trip and its in the cold of winter and we only have 85 minutes of tks.
 
dufur2003 said:
Great information guys! The boss likes the size and look of the Hawker. Then I found out that it has TKS on it. While I understood that TKS works great I was just worried about going on a 3 hour trip and its in the cold of winter and we only have 85 minutes of tks.
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Again (and not directed at you; more of a general statement) if you're planning on flying around IN ice for 85 minutes, you need to question your choice of altitude and/or routing. The issue isn't the limitations of the system, but rather the decision to stay in those conditions.
 
The 800/900 also has an airspeed restriction when TKS is being used, its generally 230IAS, but goes up to 250 depending on weight I think. I gotta look at it again. Just an FYI but hasnt caused any problems with ATC yet. I think they are used to it.
 
dufur2003 said:
Great information guys! The boss likes the size and look of the Hawker. Then I found out that it has TKS on it. While I understood that TKS works great I was just worried about going on a 3 hour trip and its in the cold of winter and we only have 85 minutes of tks.
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What are you flying now?
 
The TKS does ok. I'd rather have my heated edges. Plus the baggage space is limited relative to the size and number of seats. Those are about my only 2 complaints besides the bleed system being a little dated.
 
I flew last winter in the North East in a Caravan with TKS. While its not a Hawker that system in general is awesome. And for a plane that flys IN the weather and is HORRIBLE in Icing the TKS is awesome. I think I lost 2 KIAS at the most all last winter with the system.
 
skypilot6 said:
I flew last winter in the North East in a Caravan with TKS. While its not a Hawker that system in general is awesome. And for a plane that flys IN the weather and is HORRIBLE in Icing the TKS is awesome. I think I lost 2 KIAS at the most all last winter with the system.
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I've heard the same thing about the caravan and tks. I wish I had it a few times when I flew it.
I think the hawker is just "too fast" for the tks. No one flys it below 230ish unless on approach. Above that its not too effective. Ice can still build above 230. This is more of a nuisance problem than a real problem.
 
I flew a Hawker 700 and 800 for over 4 years and never ran out of TKS fluid. I came close once going into TEB when the airport closed for a while and we ended up holding in the soup down low for about 30 minutes and then had to get vectors and what not for the approach, but we had enough to last to the ground. I would say when considering a purchase, the TKS should be a non issue.
 
SoonerAv8r said:
Nope, but we've got several Hawker, hangar queens in the building. Meanwhile the Excel and 450 keep on flying.

Back to the matter at hand, boots and weeping wings do not belong on jets. Just sayin...
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So you're going to tell me a Jetstar is not a real jet? I think Lockheed knew what they were doing...

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