REFLECTOR: Fuel sight guages..why?

[Grigore Rosu]

Perhaps I am over-paranoid, but I have an 8-month boy, who knocks everything
down in his way and who will be 1-2-3 year old when I'll fly the Velocity
I'm building.  I see no other bigger temptation for him in the back seat
than to pull the tube of the sight gauge that came with the kit.  Therefore,
I decided to go with the Atkinson ones, even though I had a hard time
accepting to pay $126 for a pair.  I really don't see why they are so
expensive; there is really no big deal to build them.

For the same reasons expressed by Sctt and others above, I think they ar
useful and not that risky.

Grigore

On Thu, Feb 14, 2008 at 10:12 AM, Scott Derrick <scott at tnstaafl.net> wrote:

> The way I see it, the sight gauges are a fool proof method of ascertaining
> your fuel status, they just work. Period. They are simple to fabricate and
> almost idiot proof.  If you change the hoses every 5 years there is almost
> no chance of a leak. You have a lot more fuel lines in the cabin behind
> teh seat.
>
> Yes I have electric fuel gauges, yes I have a fuel flow meter also.
>
> I still like to get in, look at the panel gauges, look over my shoulder at
>  the sight gauges and verify that all is according to Hoyle...
>
> Scott
>
> > Ok Guys, I have been pondering this question for some time.  Why do we
> > have fuel sight gauges in our Velocities?  The rationale for my doubt is
> > as follows:
> >
> >
> >
> >   1.. Before we fly, we visually observe and measure the fuel quantities
> > in each tank.  We know our fuel burn.  We know flying time.  Therefore
> > we always know our fuel state.  Nothing else required.  Unless...
> >   2.. We had fuel going somewhere other than into our cylinders.  IE we
> > have a leak!  Ok, we add fuel gauges.  My understanding is that fuel
> > gauges and associated sensing equipment is much more reliable than it
> > was in my 1977 C172.
> >   3.. Most installations have some sort of a fuel flow (fuel used)
> > computer to be used as a third source of fuel status.  Mine will.
> >
> >
> > There we have it.  Three layers of redundancy.  We could lose any two
> and
> > still be aware of our fuel state.  Why add more complexity to our
> machines
> > by bringing fuel inside the cabin?
> >
> >
> >
> > Since so many people have the sight gauges, I fear I am missing
> something.
> >  Your considered opinions and thoughts please........at some point I am
> > going to be building the strakes!  Let me know what you think.
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks...Brooke
> >
> > XLRG-5
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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