Hangar Visit

On March 11^th I had several young men (Varsity and Venture Scouts) and their leaders come to the hangar for a visit.  Actually, several of these young men saw the airplane during the time it was located in my garage.  Since it is now finished and flying they thought it would be fun to come out and see it in its new home.  

They spent about an hour looking around the hanger, the airplane, sitting in the airplane and asking questions.  The leaders also participated and all seemed to have a good time.  Below are some pictures taken by Ivo Stutznegger, a good friend and one of the leaders of these young men.

We took off the upper cowling so they could see the engine.

Some of them wanted to sit in the cockpit.

I think everyone had a good time.  Maybe there are some future pilots in the group.

Finish Blast Tube Relocation

Today I finished the installation of the blast tube.  The epoxy resin cured overnight so I took the lower cowl out to the hangar.  I took a picture of the airplane with the lower and upper cowls off.

I installed the lower cowl making sure the oil cooler lined up correctly and the control for the oil cooler shutter was inserted into the guide tube running through the cooling duct.  I bolted the oil cooler shutter in place along with the oil cooler.  I hooked up the controls to the oil cooler shutter and the duct damper door.  I inserted the end of the blast tube into the fitting and tightened the screw clamp.  I also clamped the scat tube to the lower cowl opening.  Everything went together just as it was supposed to.  I moved the airplane out onto the apron and started the engine.  It started and ran fine.  I put the top cowling on and went up for a test flight.  It went well.

Blast Tube Relocation

I continue to see posts in VansAirForce form about voltage regulators failing.  I have printed off the recommendations for testing the system if the regulator seems to be out.  In addition I have been thinking about a better way to cool the regulator.  My thoughts are that if the blast tube from the shroud on top of the engine were relocated to the cowl duct it might provide a cooler air supply.  Also, if the attachment to the cowl duct is made so it is a scoop in the airstream it may improve the cooling effect.  I may be all wet, but I decided to try it out.  

For the scoop I purchased a ½” – 45^o PVC slip fitting.  I removed the upper and lower cowlings.  I also disconnected the blast tube from the engine cooling shroud.  I inserted a plug and put RTV over it to seal the plug in place.

I drilled a hole in the top of the lower cowling duct tunnel about 6” in front of the damper.  I used JB Quick Weld to attach the slip fitting to the cowling.  I cut the end of the fitting into which the blast tube will fit with the band saw.  I cut the fitting so a screw clamp can compress the end of the fitting and hold the blast tube in place.  I put RTV around the end of the blast tube for a good seal to the fitting.  Now when the end of the tube is placed in the slip fitting and the clamp tightened it will not pull out.

I then mixed some epoxy resin, cut some fiberglass and laid up some fiberglass over the fitting to secure it to the cowling.  I put fiberglass on both the top and bottom of the fitting where it goes through the upper wall of the duct.  I will let the fiberglass cure overnight and reinstall the cowlings and connect the blast tube tomorrow.