This came up on our group flight today, and none of us had an explanation: why do you have to press a button to get a fuel reading? I don't think I've ever encountered such an arrangement.
Thinking more about it, is it because, lacking a master switch, the gauging system would be a constant drain on the battery?
Spitfire Fuel Gauges
- Lewis - A2A
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Re: Spitfire Fuel Gauges
You've lived in the US for too long Ratty, you are forgetting the Britishness of things. Why? Because 'British design', "Its a british thing" Similar to the weird braking and bicycle brake for the landing gear
thanks,
Lewis
thanks,
Lewis
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Re: Spitfire Fuel Gauges
Killratio (Darryl) is the man to ask on anything pertaining to Spitfires
Paul
Paul
Re: Spitfire Fuel Gauges
Agreed! I'm waiting for him to chime in.Gypsy Baron wrote: ↑12 Sep 2020, 15:26 Killratio (Darryl) is the man to ask on anything pertaining to Spitfires
Paul
Re: Spitfire Fuel Gauges
Why did my MGA have a positive ground electrical system?
- Killratio
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Re: Spitfire Fuel Gauges
Evnen' all..sorry I'm late.
From a while back :
"The answer is quite simple and is in two parts...
1. The fuel gauge is electric and therefore a "consumer". The Early Spitfires had a "live" system..the Accumulator (battery) was hard wired to the system without a master switch and so any active consumer ...fuel gauge... would drain the accumulator if left "on" all the time. Every single consumer has a switch of its own. Which leads to the second part...why not an on off toggle?
2. Necessity....you don't need it as any more than a guide. Many WW1 Scouts had no fuel gauge... this era of aircraft were designed by pilots/designers familiar with that generation of aircraft. The pilot knew what time he took off and how long he could fly for. The big spinning thing at the front and the "Absence of Sound Indicator" tend to give ample notice that you have run out of fuel. IMHO no sane pilot trusts a fuel gauge as any more than as a guide in any case. Cessna specifically acknowledge this by making their fuel gauges accurate to within +/- 500 Gallons on their light aircraft.. (can I say that???)"
Oh, and to Lewis' point above, as an old Engineer used to say "It's not 'broken', it's 'British'..."
regards
Darryl
From a while back :
"The answer is quite simple and is in two parts...
1. The fuel gauge is electric and therefore a "consumer". The Early Spitfires had a "live" system..the Accumulator (battery) was hard wired to the system without a master switch and so any active consumer ...fuel gauge... would drain the accumulator if left "on" all the time. Every single consumer has a switch of its own. Which leads to the second part...why not an on off toggle?
2. Necessity....you don't need it as any more than a guide. Many WW1 Scouts had no fuel gauge... this era of aircraft were designed by pilots/designers familiar with that generation of aircraft. The pilot knew what time he took off and how long he could fly for. The big spinning thing at the front and the "Absence of Sound Indicator" tend to give ample notice that you have run out of fuel. IMHO no sane pilot trusts a fuel gauge as any more than as a guide in any case. Cessna specifically acknowledge this by making their fuel gauges accurate to within +/- 500 Gallons on their light aircraft.. (can I say that???)"
Oh, and to Lewis' point above, as an old Engineer used to say "It's not 'broken', it's 'British'..."
regards
Darryl
Re: Spitfire Fuel Gauges
Perfect! Thanks, Darryl!
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