Fuel Conversion

FUEL CONVERSION

Fuel is sold in gallons, but all fuel computations in the aircraft reference pounds. This is

because it is important to know the total weight of the aircraft. Therefore, the conversion

from gallons to pounds is a necessary skill in aviation. To convert gallons of fuel to pounds,

the weight of a single gallon must be known. On a standard day, most aviation fuel weighs

between 6.5 and 6.9 pounds per one gallon. This ratio of 6.X to 1 is used in the formula:

FUEL WEIGHT

TOTAL PO UNDS

1 GAL L O N

TOTAL GAL L O NS

Note that the outer scale on the CR-3 remains the FUEL scale, and the inner scale now

becomes the GALLONS scale.

It is important to remember that the 10 on the inner wheel represents 1-gallon. Since there

is no time involved in this type of problem, DO NOT use the rate index! Also remember that

there will always be more pounds than gallons.

EXAMPLE ONE:

Finding total fuel weight.

Given: Total gallons . . . . 525 gallons

Fuel weight. . . . 6.6 lbs per gallon

Find:

Total fuel weight.

Solution:

Estimate the answer. Round the fuel weight up to 7 pounds per gallon. Round the

total gallons down to 500. 7 x 500 is 3500 (pounds).

Find 66 (6.6#) on the POUNDS (outer) scale and place it over 10 on the GALLONS

(inner) scale. (Figure 4.3-28)

4.6-73