Belite fuel level.

[samiam]

My fuel gauge is the tank itself. I emptied it and filled it two gallons at a time. I set it level and on it's tail and marked each side of the tank with a sharpie (one side is for three point on the ground and the other is for flight). I installed a wifi reverse camera under the panel and facing the tank. Fuel level can be viewed in real time on my phone or ipad. I got the idea when I saw a video of a biplane with an efis that had a screen set up with a forward facing camera for taxi operations. Most of the backup cameras have a IR capability so it can see the tank with very little available light. I think I'm going to back light the tank with an LED to make the fuel more visible. The only problem with the camera is it projects the image in "reverse" as if you're looking in a mirror so the numbers written on the tank are backwards. Think it would work just as well with a GoPro or any other wifi camera. I chose the reverse camera because it was around $40 and I could use my Ipad/iphone as the display.

Glenn, neat idea. Just curious as to what the DAR thought about this. I know a functioning fuel gauge is a required instrument for VFR flight, so I'm guessing that he counted this as acceptable.

[fastj22]

Why would that not be a functioning fuel gauge? Albeit a bit unconventional. Jeff Schultz did the same thing.

[samiam]

I assume it would be, but it is a little odd, so I wouldn't be surprised if the DAR said something about it.

[radfordc]

Glenn, neat idea. Just curious as to what the DAR thought about this. I know a functioning fuel gauge is a required instrument for VFR flight, so I'm guessing that he counted this as acceptable.

A functioning fuel gauge is required for standard category aircraft (ie, Cessna, etc). It is not required for day time, VFR in an experimental aircraft. There are no mandatory instruments for experimentals unless flown at night or IFR.

[vwglenn]

Glenn, neat idea. Just curious as to what the DAR thought about this. I know a functioning fuel gauge is a required instrument for VFR flight, so I'm guessing that he counted this as acceptable.

Well...I didn't ask the DAR. What I had in the plane was a non-functional sight gauge. I replaced it with a functional sight gauge.

[samiam]

Glenn, neat idea. Just curious as to what the DAR thought about this. I know a functioning fuel gauge is a required instrument for VFR flight, so I'm guessing that he counted this as acceptable.

A functioning fuel gauge is required for standard category aircraft (ie, Cessna, etc). It is not required for day time, VFR in an experimental aircraft. There are no mandatory instruments for experimentals unless flown at night or IFR.

I'm not sure that this is true. I'm not Mr. FAR, but I believe that experimentals operating under Part 91 still need to comply with 91.205 minimum instrument requirements.

[radfordc]

Glenn, neat idea. Just curious as to what the DAR thought about this. I know a functioning fuel gauge is a required instrument for VFR flight, so I'm guessing that he counted this as acceptable.

A functioning fuel gauge is required for standard category aircraft (ie, Cessna, etc). It is not required for day time, VFR in an experimental aircraft. There are no mandatory instruments for experimentals unless flown at night or IFR.

I'm not sure that this is true. I'm not Mr. FAR, but I believe that experimentals operating under Part 91 still need to comply with 91.205 minimum instrument requirements.

Nope. See this chart and look at the requirements under Day VFR....everything is NR http://www.periheliondesign.com/downloa ... EMENTS.pdf

Here is another reference: http://www.flyingmag.com/safety/trainin ... -paperwork

The FAR says: "§ 91.205 Powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S. airworthiness certificates: Instrument and equipment requirements." See the reference to "standard category"....this reg only applies to those type aircraft. There is no place in the FARs that lists mandatory instruments for "special category...ie, experimental" aircraft.

[Corby202]

Sounds like you still have positive pressure in the tank whilst flying Robbie. Not sure why it should read ok whilst taxying, if anything it should be reading high then. Like I mentioned before the fuel surface area in a Sonex tank is high for the capacity of the tank so very little pressure is going to have a big influence on the reading.

[jaflint]

Phil, can you say a little more about your fuel vent system? The way you describe it earlier, it sounds like there may be multiple places along the line where static air pressure gets into the system. Where/how does the line from the fuel vent in the tank intersect with the line from the drip tray drain?
Thanks,
JF

[Mike53]

More info from Van's Airforce .http://www.vansairforce.com/community/s ... p?t=128605