Hi Fred, A single (pilot side) Rain-Pruf wing tank gauge reports fuel level in BOTH wing tanks unless the crossover pipe is blocked. It does NOT cause a 2 MPH reduction in airspeed. A GPS can easily confirm that.
If that Rain-Pruf wing tank gauge is calibrated (as earlier discussed), a pilot can observe in approximately four gallon increments (2 from each tank) consumption of wing tank fuel during cross-country flights. That is useful information few of us could get in flight with a stick ;<). While it is true that "the stick never lies", a lineman would have to have a stick specifically calibrated (or a chart for the yardstick) for each possible tank in each aircraft type. In a Coupe, one might be useful to compare with the calibrated "full" mark on the float gauge now and then. Any variation should prompt timely cork replacement, preferably with one well coated with epoxy and NOT the original shellac (which dissolves in 100LL and auto fuel) followed by re-calibration of the gauge. If a stick is to be carried in the plane, a vapor-tight carrying tube would be appropriate. The smell of fuel in the cockpit should NEVER be considered "normal" or acceptable. Regards, WRB -- On Aug 28, 2009, at 14:27, [email protected] wrote: > I had the wing tank float gauges and took them off. Gained 2 mph and > lost little information. It only showed when I was down about 4 gal. > in each tank and from there on I was on my own. I now keep a foot long > ruler and in my preflight, I stick the tank: > > In 1970 I was working the night lineman at the Bloomington airport, and > would gas the Ozark DC10s. One night the pilot called and told me the > right wing gauge wasn't working and I would have to "stick the tank" > When he landed I told him I didn't know what he meant and he got a > ladder and yardstick, stuck it in the tank and found how much fuel was > in it. I told him "I hope the passangers didn't see that". > > The best news, "the stick never lies" >
