the default flight planner always seems to recommend less fuel than what it takes to reach your destination airport. it other words if i start from the runway and fly the course from the nav log, i'll be out of fuel at least 50 miles from my destination. i must be missing something. on the panel it shows 2 fuel status gauges but there are 3 fuel tanks. are those fuel gauges for the 2 engines instead of the tanks and if so where's the 3rd tank gauge? william

I think you are mis-reading the gauges. There are clearly 3 fuel gauges on the display: ctr. 1. and 2.When you fly, remember that the suggestion is only that: a suggestion. You need to work out the minimum plus 1 hour reserve plus enough to cope with holding plus enough to fly to your alternate airport.Having said that, you can squeeze the fuel out to last by managing your climb rates and speed. You need to experiment.I used to fly the 737-800 for 3 hours then by changing the way I flew, I managed 4 hours.

Holy ancient resurrections, Batman!