--> Europa-List message posted by: "Jeremy Davey" <EuropaFlyer_3@msn.com>
Nigel,
Agreed 100%. Club members will be interested to note that the mod I've put
forward for conversion into a Standard Mod and mentioned in the last Europa
Flyer allows the sight gauge to be deleted IF AND ONLY IF two systems
differing in their operation are implemented for measuring fuel level.
Such systems might include:
Capacitance gauges (see existing Club mod)
Magnetic gauges (see Factory mod)
Integrator (aka totaliser)
Float gauge
While I wrote it to allow the generic case in order that it could become a
useful standard mod, in my own case I am using twin capacitance probes (one
each side, although only one on the main side is actually required) and an
integrator.
Regards,
Jeremy
Jeremy Davey
Europa Monowheel 537M G-EZZA
Europa Club Vice-Chairman, Webmaster, PFA NC Representative
PFA EC Member
If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, then it is
possible you haven't grasped the severity of the situation.
Tail done
Standard XS wings with mods underway
CM installed in fuse (with airbrakes fittings)
1400 build hours to date
Intended fit:
Rotax 914 turbo, Airmaster CS fully-feathering prop
Lots of lights, buttons, switches, gizmos, and alarms
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of nigel charles
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Funny fuel gauge
--> Europa-List message posted by: "nigel charles"
--> <nigelcharles@tiscali.co.uk>
For what it is worth this is my viewpoint on fuel gauging.
On a touring aircraft like the Europa knowing your fuel contents accurately
gives peace of mind and avoids needless fuel stops at intermediate
airfields. Although some may say that 3 hours is plenty long enough and is
always within the range of a full tank, there are times when 2 sector trips
without refuelling are required (no fuel available at destination or
avoiding loading Avgas rather than unleaded).
With that in mind it is helpful to have two independent ways of measuring
fuel contents. Fuel level whether it is float, sightglass or capacitance
sender is one method. Whilst this shows the quantity of fuel in the tank
even the most accurate system is unlikely to better inaccuracies of 10 per
cent. I use dual capacitance senders but treat them as a backup. My main
(and by far more accurate fuel contents
indication) is using a fuel flow sender and electronic integrator display
(in my case uMonitor). Two of us have been running this system for 3 years
now (the other Europa uses the EIS display). We are both remaining within
0.5 per cent and often within 0.2 per cent. There are only two significant
considerations with the integrator system. Firstly it is important to
remember to reset the calculated fuel contents after refuel. Secondly it
will not read accurately if there is a fuel leak before the fuel flow
sender. The chances of this are hopefully remote and you are likely to be
aware of this by smell.
Both techniques have been used for many years in larger aircraft. Even with
very accurate gauging in the B777 often it is the level gauge rather than
the integrated readings that gives errors.
To sum up - by all means fit whatever you think is the best level gauging
system but for real accuracy fit an integrator system.
Nigel Charles
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