Getting ready to do some long range flights in the Vega, getting checked out on the instruments and procedures, and I find there is no fuel gauge. Did I miss it? iMiller

No fuel gauge, perhaps in the real world there should be a fluctuation in the fuel pressure gauge when the fuel tank is low but never saw that effect on FS.

Interesting. So I just have to fly on each tank until the engine quits? That does seem like a rather odd thing for a real-world pilot to do. iMiller

>>Interesting. >>So I just have to fly on each tank until the engine quits?>That does seem like a rather odd thing for a real-world pilot>to do. >>>iMillerNope.You know how much fuel is in the tanks, say 100 gallons.You subtract the fuel used in taxi and run up, let

Thanks, that is what I was planning on doing. I did an in flight test, changing the amount of fuel in the tank I was flying on to 0.1 gallons of fuel then flew until the engine quit while keeping an eye on the fuel pressure gauge, but it didn't show any change until the engine quit. However, when the engine quit I let the aircraft glide for a minute or two, then switched tanks and the engine started again. Looks like the only thing to do is project how much flight time each tank will allow as you suggested. Also, there is a hand pump lever in this aircraft that would appear to allow you to transfer fuel between tanks, but I don't know how it works. Any ideas? I've been researching the last couple days but haven't found any flight manual or 'How to Fly' information. The documentation from MS says to use the fuselage tanks first, but nothing beyond that. Thanks for the response. iMiller

>Thanks, that is what I was planning on doing. I did an in>flight test, changing the amount of fuel in the tank I was>flying on to 0.1 gallons of fuel then flew until the engine>quit while keeping an eye on the fuel pressure gauge, but it>didn't show any change until the engine quit. However, when>the engine quit I let the aircraft glide for a minute or two,>then switched tanks and the engine started again. Looks like>the only thing to do is project how much flight time each tank>will allow as you suggested. >>Also, there is a hand pump lever in this aircraft that would>appear to allow you to transfer fuel between tanks, but I>don't know how it works. Any ideas? I've been researching the>last couple days but haven't found any flight manual or 'How>to Fly' information. The documentation from MS says to use the>fuselage tanks first, but nothing beyond that. An easier method would be to use the fuel UI.Fill up the tanks, fly at cruse for 15 minutes, then check the fuel menu to see how much fuel you used. Multiply the amount of fuel gone by four and that is your fuel burn per hour.I'll have to check on the Vega fuel pump. I don't have FS in front of me right now, but if you look at the learning center in your FS install, I'm sure it will give you all the information you need.

Shift + Z two times...you'll see how much gas is left... its a cheat, but its there.Eric

I did read the info in the learning center, it only mentions that after you switch from default when in flight, which is burning fuel from all tanks, to using one tank at a time, you can't switch back to 'all'. It appears keeping track of time for each tank is the only way to have an idea of when each will run dry. Thanks for the suggestion.iMiller

Well my intent is to fly as real as possible. I'll be using de'd reckoning for the flights I have planned and would rather not rely on the various 'cheats' available, though I might have to check in flight wind for longer flights. It seems an odd thing there is no fuel gauge in the Vega though. This is the plane Earhart flew solo across the Atlantic. I would think knowing how much fuel you have would be top priority, especially if a leak developed along the way that you didn't know about. iMiller

Odd indeed, but do remember that back in the '30s things were a lot less standardized than they are today. Look at the variety of panel arrangements, for instance. Even into the 50s and the "standard 6" were not "standardized" - look at the genuine panel arrangement for the DreamFleet C310.If the Vega did indeed not have a fuel gauge it makes the achievements of Earheart all the more remarkable !Cheers,Alastair

Didn't she just send Fred out on the wing with a dipstick? Ask any woman, that kind of thing is the only reason to take a man on a trip anyway ;-).

Yeah...taking fred may have been a mistake...you know we fellas hate to ask for directions...Eric

So I just have to fly on each tank until the engine quits? That does seem like a rather odd thing for a real-world pilot to do.

That is exactly what real world GA pilots do. Fuel guages in anything other than a/c fitted with capacitance guages (as opposed to float) are notoriously unreliable and have caused quite a few emergencies. All pilots visually check the quantity of fuel before t/o often by using a dipstick or visually, check that against the tech log, decide what speed and hence what consumption they will cruise at during planning and make sure that the available endurance is at least the required endurance + 45 minutes.

Interesting. I can certainly see checking the fuel level physically, but this is 2004 and I would expect very accurate gauges. Thanks for the info. I headed out across the Pacific to Hawaii from Half Moon Bay, Ca. iMiller