View Full Version : Fuel Quantity stick - Clear LUCITE plastic rod
Danial9874
16th Jul 2019, 13:57
Hi guys, just curious
is clear LUCITE plastic rod stil use to measure fuel quantity in aircraft?
how the lucite plastic rod operate ?
how does it give reading ?
Thank you so much
NutLoose
16th Jul 2019, 21:52
I do not know what the material is but are we talking Magnetic level indicators as used in the likes of the vc10?
That was a rod in the wing tanks that was on like a half turn to unlock, it dropped out of the bottom of the wing until a metal tip reached a circular donut shaped float with a magnet incorporated in it floathing on the fuel, this was then read off the stick as inches of fuel, you then calculated the nose down angle and wing high / low angles using a couple of scaled spirit levels built into the fuel panel compartment and a chart on the VC10 was used to correct the inch figures to allow you work out an accurate quantity. Each tank could have several sticks and depending on how it sat determine the ones you used.
similar was a drip stick, this was hollow and you lowered it until fuel dripped out thus indicating the level, you then took readings as per above.
NutLoose
16th Jul 2019, 21:57
Or are we talking light aircraft where the rod is scaled and you dip the tank then read off the wet level. Some are hollow and you stick your finger over the end to seal it then lift it out and read the level.
The only Lucite underwing fuel measuring sticks I ever saw were on the Lockheed L188 Electra. As far as I can recall the upper internal end was either a conical or chisel shaped prism. When above the fuel the viewing window at the lower end was clear or bright with the ambient light reflecting back down from the prism. As fuel covered the prism it went dark. To check the fuel level you pulled the stick down until the viewing window showed either a pinpoint of light for the conical or a thin straight line for the chisel shaped prism then read the figure on the side of the stick. For refuelling you set the stick to the required figure then shut off the fuel for that tank when the stick showed a pinpoint or straight line as before.