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Step 9
Piping the Pitot & Static System |
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I don't have too many under construction photos to show you
of this part of building the nose of the airplane. Why? Computer
crash - cost me quite a few 'up to the minute' pictures. Don't ask.
Anyway, I've tried to re-create the images needed using some from other
parts of the construction sequence. This shot shows the very front of the
airplane, forward of F-0. The small plywood piece, vertically
oriented, was cut with a small slot onto which I bolted some fittings. |
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Fittings like these. The 45 degree didn't work, I had
to use a 90. These are the bolt to a bulkhead kind, 1/4" tubing
fittings. I bolted the 90 to the plywood piece mentioned above.
Then I ran tubing per plans back to F-22 in a slot carved in the foam. |
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Here's the side of the airplane, marked with tape, for the
holes for the static ports. I will drill these later on in the
construction phase when there's less chance of getting dirt and/or micro in
them as further construction or finishing occurs and generates particles
that will leap into the static ports with a vengeance. |
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Here's a shot of the inside of the left side of the plane -
taken when it was upside down doing the nose top. You can see the 1/4"
aluminum tubing run. I carved the foam all the way down to the
interior layup, then epoxied it in per plans. I didn't try really
hard, but, it does end up going uphill the whole way which should prevent
any water from collecting in it when the airplane is parked nose down and it
rains. I also made a small cover for the tubing as it came out of the
side and passed through F-22. I'm not real happy with the look - I'll
probably fill above and below it with pour foam, re-carve then glass over
it. |
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Another shot of the pitot tubing coming through F-22, and,
the static tubing penetrating the side of the plane. I taped the ends
to prevent dirt and debris from entering the tubing. |
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Another shot of the inside of the nose showing the tubing
run. Nothing too fancy here, just get it where it needs to be, avoid
any un-necessary bends. I kept it as far in as possible to prevent any
chance of running into it when I carved the sides.
You can also see in this shot a recess I made in the side for some rudder
pedal clearance on on the left seat side. I will cover the exposed
foam with a glass layup at some point. |
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Here's the business end. As shown above, I have a 90
degree fitting bolted to the plywood piece. This will hopefully allow
me to make a removable pitot, or, a blank/dummy one (with a large/bright
flag on it) that prevents people from banging their legs on it or damaging
it. I crimped a short piece of tubing, again, to keep debris out.
I'll also clean up the nose around the fitting, now that it's glassed, to
allow access to the nut/fitting but make for a nice looking nose. |
| That completes the pitot & static system.
The next step is Closing the Top and Carving
and Glassing the Outside. |
