The Murphy Builders Site

At 01:11 AM 8/25/2006 -0800, you wrote:

In reviewing the Airworthiness Inspector's Checklist (provided to me in
advance by the inspector) I have a couple of questions that you folks flying
must have gotten answered.

1. "Records must show fuel gauge calibration and unusable fuel." I added
fuel 5 gallons at a time to the left wing marking the sight gauge and
dipstick while in the three point attitude. Then I raised the tail to near
level and did the same thing on the right wing. I consider that fuel gauge
calibration. How do I figure out unusable fuel?

2. "All instruments must be marked with green/red line ranges." I ordered
my airspeed indicator with custom markings but could not do that with engine
gauges. What have you all done to mark your gauges?

Mike (gettin' close)
044SR

To get unusable just drain it back out through the fuel line and see how
much you get back then subtract that from what you put in. I bought a
sticker kit from spruce for my gauges but I think some vinyl lettering
material from a local sign shop would work just as well. I've seen lots
with just a stripe of nail polish too.
Drew



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I've seen guys print yellow, green and red bands or whatever on that
full size sticky back label paper and then just cut out what they
needed.

Also the inspector will have no clue so you can pretty much put the
green, yellow red wherever you want and fix it later.

On 8/25/06, Drew Dalgleish <drewjan@cabletv.on.ca> wrote:

At 01:11 AM 8/25/2006 -0800, you wrote:

In reviewing the Airworthiness Inspector's Checklist (provided to me in
advance by the inspector) I have a couple of questions that you folks flying
must have gotten answered.

1. "Records must show fuel gauge calibration and unusable fuel." I added
fuel 5 gallons at a time to the left wing marking the sight gauge and
dipstick while in the three point attitude. Then I raised the tail to near
level and did the same thing on the right wing. I consider that fuel gauge
calibration. How do I figure out unusable fuel?

2. "All instruments must be marked with green/red line ranges." I ordered
my airspeed indicator with custom markings but could not do that with engine
gauges. What have you all done to mark your gauges?

Mike (gettin' close)
044SR

To get unusable just drain it back out through the fuel line and see how
much you get back then subtract that from what you put in. I bought a
sticker kit from spruce for my gauges but I think some vinyl lettering
material from a local sign shop would work just as well. I've seen lots
with just a stripe of nail polish too.
Drew



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Thanks for the replies. I think I can do the sticky back paper with arcs
for the gauges. Adding fuel to the wings and then draining it all back out
through the fuel line sounds a little problamatic. I'd have to rig some
method of measuring what came back out. Fill 5-gallon jerry cans one at a
time shutting off the fuel while I switch cans? What a pain? What has the
unusable fuel come out to on Super Rebels in general for those of you that
actually went to the effort to determine it? Seems like a lot of effort for
little gain since I still have a fair amount of fuel left in the wings when
I can no longer see any in my sight gauges.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of Mike
Kimball
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 1:12 AM
To: Rebel Builder's List
Subject: [rebel-builders] Inspection Prep

In reviewing the Airworthiness Inspector's Checklist (provided to me in
advance by the inspector) I have a couple of questions that you folks flying
must have gotten answered.

1. "Records must show fuel gauge calibration and unusable fuel." I added
fuel 5 gallons at a time to the left wing marking the sight gauge and
dipstick while in the three point attitude. Then I raised the tail to near
level and did the same thing on the right wing. I consider that fuel gauge
calibration. How do I figure out unusable fuel?

2. "All instruments must be marked with green/red line ranges." I ordered
my airspeed indicator with custom markings but could not do that with engine
gauges. What have you all done to mark your gauges?

Mike (gettin' close)
044SR




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That is what I did - made up the arcs in sticky back paper. Just made circles
( 2 1/4, 3 1/8 or whatever) and then can cut and overlap as necessary to
get the right size.

Have you done your weight and balance? Generally "Basic Empty Weight"
includes unusable fuel and full oil and other fluids in your case. You have to
drain it down at the carb end until it stops flowing - in the level flight attitude
(same as weighing attitude) what ever is left is your unusable - how much is
it? Honestly - who cares - make up a number if he wants to see "unusable".
It is already included in your Basic Empty weight so doesn't really matter. Of
course knowing exactly how much "usable" is a must (or should) know. I think
the "unusable" is left over from the days of using "empty weight" not "basic
empty weight".

Don't have my paper work right here but seems my unusable was about 4
gallons per side with the 120 G tanks.

Like you said - everything involving the FAA is a whole lot of effort for very
little gain <grin>.
FWIW
Scott



On 8/25/2006 6:11 PM, mkimball@gci.net wrote to rebel-builders:

-> Thanks for the replies. I think I can do the sticky back paper with arcs
-> for the gauges. Adding fuel to the wings and then draining it all back out
-> through the fuel line sounds a little problamatic. I'd have to rig some
-> method of measuring what came back out. Fill 5-gallon jerry cans one at a
-> time shutting off the fuel while I switch cans? What a pain? What has the
-> unusable fuel come out to on Super Rebels in general for those of you that
-> actually went to the effort to determine it? Seems like a lot of effort for
-> little gain since I still have a fair amount of fuel left in the wings when
-> I can no longer see any in my sight gauges.
->
-> Mike
->
-> -----Original Message-----
-> From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of
Mike
-> Kimball
-> Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 1:12 AM
-> To: Rebel Builder's List
-> Subject: [rebel-builders] Inspection Prep
->
-> In reviewing the Airworthiness Inspector's Checklist (provided to me in
-> advance by the inspector) I have a couple of questions that you folks
flying
-> must have gotten answered.
->
-> 1. "Records must show fuel gauge calibration and unusable fuel." I added
-> fuel 5 gallons at a time to the left wing marking the sight gauge and
-> dipstick while in the three point attitude. Then I raised the tail to near
-> level and did the same thing on the right wing. I consider that fuel gauge
-> calibration. How do I figure out unusable fuel?
->
-> 2. "All instruments must be marked with green/red line ranges." I ordered
-> my airspeed indicator with custom markings but could not do that with
engine
-> gauges. What have you all done to mark your gauges?
->
-> Mike (gettin' close)
-> 044SR
->
->
->
->
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-> username "rebel" password "builder"
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-> List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-> -----------------------------------------------------------------
->
->
->





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Couldn't you just start with an empty wing and keep track of how much fuel
you put into it before you get any out? Then fill it all the way up and
subtract what it took to start the flow.

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Kimball" <mkimball@gci.net>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 6:11 PM
Subject: RE: [rebel-builders] Inspection Prep

Thanks for the replies. I think I can do the sticky back paper with arcs
for the gauges. Adding fuel to the wings and then draining it all back
out
through the fuel line sounds a little problamatic. I'd have to rig some
method of measuring what came back out. Fill 5-gallon jerry cans one at a
time shutting off the fuel while I switch cans? What a pain? What has
the
unusable fuel come out to on Super Rebels in general for those of you that
actually went to the effort to determine it? Seems like a lot of effort
for
little gain since I still have a fair amount of fuel left in the wings
when
I can no longer see any in my sight gauges.

Mike

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There's an idea. Thanks Mike. Although I do agree with Scott too. Who
cares as long as when it comes time to weigh the plane I drain fuel from the
line to the carb with the plane level. Good stuff guys. Thanks.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com]
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 7:58 PM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] Inspection Prep

Couldn't you just start with an empty wing and keep track of how much fuel
you put into it before you get any out? Then fill it all the way up and
subtract what it took to start the flow.

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Kimball" <mkimball@gci.net>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 6:11 PM
Subject: RE: [rebel-builders] Inspection Prep

Thanks for the replies. I think I can do the sticky back paper with arcs
for the gauges. Adding fuel to the wings and then draining it all back
out
through the fuel line sounds a little problamatic. I'd have to rig some
method of measuring what came back out. Fill 5-gallon jerry cans one at a
time shutting off the fuel while I switch cans? What a pain? What has
the
unusable fuel come out to on Super Rebels in general for those of you that
actually went to the effort to determine it? Seems like a lot of effort
for
little gain since I still have a fair amount of fuel left in the wings
when
I can no longer see any in my sight gauges.

Mike

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HI Mike,
I guess I'm one of those guys that just has to know the real answer. I
poured in 5 gal in the Rebel and measured what didn't come back out. (1/2 gal).
It also is a help if/when you need to remove a wing. The EAA has a great
paper kit on testing your aircraft.
There is a lot of stuff I wanted to know, not just trying to appease the
FEDS. One of those being the fuel flow test. They FAA doesn't require it, but
I sure wanted to know if it was right.
Kit plane mag has a good article on what causes accidents in amateur built
aircraft. Sept issue.
I guess I'm trying to say nobody should short cut the testing or
inspection procedures. You've worked way to hard to make it this far.
Curt N97MR




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