GFA have an incident recently in SA where a G109 returned from flight with
no fuel and mentioned pilot miss read dip stick.

About 10 years ago I had to do a PAX flight and I did something similar
when first glider I went to had master left on so went to falke and dipped
it with a stick and miss read dip stick and took off with 8 litres where I
thought it was 18 litres. I was in a hurry and mad at some body was such a
fool to leave master on.  Immediately after that I cut a flat spot on dowel
dip stick up to 10 litre mark and marked that area "*too low to fly*".
 Never made the error again.

Personally I will not or hate flying an aircraft with no dip stick.  For
dimona from Day 1 I took the tank to aeroweld and added a flange and bug to
top of tank.  Another I added the flange using the fuel tank sealant called
ProSeal 120.and works well but must be real careful with making hole in
tank.   I would recommend this as dimona is very accurate down low level
fuel and then I can accurately add fuel for a flight.

Grob 109 and falkes are no worries with dip stick as with. Ximango can be
dipped with stick.  Just consider a too low mark by way of flat spot on
your dip stick.

Just a thought-I love dipsticks as they do not lie.

Ian McPhee     .

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