Fuel Guage

[Lewis - A2A]

Conext, all about keeping things in context

[stiz]

another thing about lack of flap indicator .. its hardly needed in a spit, flaps are either fully up or fully down! and any fighter pilot worthy of the name should be able to realize the difference between the 2 states

[FlipS]

I would suggest to read 'R.J. Mitchell. Schooldays to Spitfire', written bij his son Gordon, and Alex Henshaw 'Sigh for a Merlin'. You won't find an answer to your questions, but you will pick up some of the circumstances of the time. And you will enjoy your A2A Spitfires even more!

[Killratio]

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???)

regards

Darryl

[Killratio]

The seat heater in my Spitfire is not working. How do I fix that?

Seat heating in the Mk II is turned on by inserting a Coffman starter Cartridge into the top fuel tank and firing it.

[Gypsy Baron]

The seat heater in my Spitfire is not working. How do I fix that?

Seat heating in the Mk II is turned on by inserting a Coffman starter Cartridge into the top fuel tank and firing it.

Welcome back Darryl! I hope you are well. Nice reply BTW

Paul

[Piper_EEWL]

Seat heating in the Mk II is turned on by inserting a Coffman starter Cartridge into the top fuel tank and firing it.

You might want to mention the side effects

[Killratio]

Thanks Paul, I'm taking it one breath at a time !

Piper_EEWL , yes, sorry, it DOES increase fuel consumption....