Spitfire Fuel Gauges

Forever, Britain's most cherished Crown Jewel
new reply
User avatar
ratty
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 896
Joined: 29 Oct 2013, 21:08
Location: KPMP

Spitfire Fuel Gauges

Post by ratty »

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?
Image

User avatar
Lewis - A2A
A2A Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 33284
Joined: 06 Nov 2004, 23:22
Location: Norfolk UK
Contact:

Re: Spitfire Fuel Gauges

Post by Lewis - A2A »

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" :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Similar to the weird braking and bicycle brake for the landing gear :mrgreen:

thanks,
Lewis
A2A Facebook for news live to your social media newsfeed
A2A Youtube because a video can say a thousand screenshots,..
A2A Simulations Twitter for news live to your social media newsfeed
A2A Simulations Community Discord for voice/text chat

Gypsy Baron
A2A Master Mechanic
Posts: 3396
Joined: 02 Aug 2008, 17:04
Location: San Francisco

Re: Spitfire Fuel Gauges

Post by Gypsy Baron »

Killratio (Darryl) is the man to ask on anything pertaining to Spitfires :)

Paul

User avatar
ratty
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 896
Joined: 29 Oct 2013, 21:08
Location: KPMP

Re: Spitfire Fuel Gauges

Post by ratty »

Gypsy Baron wrote: 12 Sep 2020, 15:26 Killratio (Darryl) is the man to ask on anything pertaining to Spitfires :)

Paul
Agreed! I'm waiting for him to chime in. :D
Image

User avatar
Paughco
Senior Master Sergeant
Posts: 2095
Joined: 30 Nov 2014, 12:27

Re: Spitfire Fuel Gauges

Post by Paughco »

Why did my MGA have a positive ground electrical system?
Image

User avatar
ratty
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 896
Joined: 29 Oct 2013, 21:08
Location: KPMP

Re: Spitfire Fuel Gauges

Post by ratty »

Paughco wrote: 12 Sep 2020, 20:11 Why did my MGA have a positive ground electrical system?
See Lewis's answer above. :D
Image

User avatar
Killratio
A2A Spitfire Crew Chief
Posts: 5785
Joined: 29 Jul 2008, 23:41
Location: The South West of the large island off the north coast of Tasmania
Contact:

Re: Spitfire Fuel Gauges

Post by Killratio »

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
<Sent from my 1988 Sony Walkman with Dolby Noise Reduction and 24" earphone cord extension>


Image

User avatar
ratty
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 896
Joined: 29 Oct 2013, 21:08
Location: KPMP

Re: Spitfire Fuel Gauges

Post by ratty »

Perfect! Thanks, Darryl!
Image

new reply

Return to “Spitfire MkI/II”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests