Fuel gauge?

[dickoreilly]

New member's first post (1998 JT2, Rotax 503, owned since July 2010): How have members solved the fuel level/fuel gauge issue? Does anyone have a calibration table to enable marking fuel level in gallons on the fuel tank? Thanks, Dick

[earthstaraircraft]

In a message dated 3/9/2011 2:28:31 PM Pacific Standard Time,
dickoreilly@yahoo.com writes:

New member's first post (1998 JT2, Rotax 503, owned since July 2010): How
have members solved the fuel level/fuel gauge issue? Does anyone have a
calibration table to enable marking fuel level in gallons on the fuel tank?
Thanks, Dick




Hi Dick
I have started with an empty tank and with the plane in level flight
attitude marked the tank with a black marker for each gallon I pore in till it
is full, than I like to make the half way mark big so it is easy to judge. I
don't fly 503 any more I fly the HKS now so fuel level is not so important
now because the HKS is so much more efficient, I am using about 1/2 the gas
of the 503 now. I have flown to Oshkosh and Sun-N-Fun many times with the
503 and now the trip is so much more pleasant not having to find gas so
often and than there is the Money saved!!!
Hope this helps.
Happy flying
Mark Beierle, Earthstar Aircraft.

[fgayford]

Hi Dick
Welcome to the group! You fly my kind of plane. Well, actually you are flying exactly my plane. I have the JT2 in the photo section under "Canadian Gull".
Fred

[tgulldave]

Hi Dick, I've found the Grand Rapids EIS with the fuel flow option to be an excellent alternative to being able to see the tank. Once you get it adjusted, it's very accurate.

It's wonderful to compare the EIS "hours of fuel" to the GPS "time to destination", and see anytime during the flight, what your reserve is (or isn't).

[billbango]

Hi

I have a gull 2000 and I had a difficult time even seeing the fuel tank let
alone how much fuel was in it. My solution was to install a back up camera and
a small monitor. Got it from Ebay (Hong Kong) for $38.00. Amazon sells a
"Pyle" unit (PLCM25) camera and 2.5 inch monitor for under $55.00

Ted

[fgayford]

Hi Ted
I took a look at the camera, it looks interesting.
Guages are one thing but seeing is believing.
Perhaps you could post some pictures of your setup.
How far away from the tank do you have to be for focus?
I suppose a LED could be used to light up the area behind the curtain. This setup probably wouldn't use that much power.
Fred

[sadowin]

I just made a sight glass along the front the tank. It is easy to look at in flight with a little mirror that I keep carry in my flight
bag in between my legs. See photo in the Thundergull site in C-IIKH.
The markings are in liters, it is a 12 US gal. tank. {10 Imp.}
I figure on 1 and 1/2 hours with lots of reserve. If I'm going any farther I have a little jerry can that sits on top of the main tank.
The previous owners photos are in 504TX.

Mike

[earthstaraircraft]

In a message dated 3/9/2011 8:32:13 PM Pacific Standard Time,
billbango@yahoo.com writes:

Hi

I have a gull 2000 and I had a difficult time even seeing the fuel tank
let alone how much fuel was in it. My solution was to install a back up
camera and a small monitor. Got it from Ebay (Hong Kong) for $38.00. Amazon
sells a "Pyle" unit (PLCM25) camera and 2.5 inch monitor for under $55.00

Ted







Hi Ted
The most common solution to that problem is a small mirror but the camera
is an interesting idea. Does it see in low light conditions
Happy flying
mark

[fgayford]

Hi Mike
Did you have that aluminium tank fabricated?
Did the 504TX make his tank from fiberglass?
Fred

[blaswichk]

I'll second that. I flip the display occasionally to see what my fuel burn is, then go back to dual CHT/EGT readings. I love that little display.

kb