I decided I would document those things that are interesting or different about my plane. I have already documented once what I did the first time around, but this time, for the sake of time, Im just going to give you the highlights.
Fuel Tanks
I am extending the existing main wing tanks from 42 to 60 gallons. 99 times out of 100 I'll fuel to 40 gallons and I have built tabs to do just that. I want light weight and the range at 42 gallons with VFR reserves should be (215mph, 11.5gph, 2.9 hrs) is 624 miles. Now this is normally just fine. But there are times in my 6 that I do wish I had some more fuel. I live at an expensive fuel stop. When I return home on a 3 hr leg, I always have to stop and get fuel before I fly to home base. This is a pain. What I really need is to fly 3 hours, and have 1 hour+ fuel to fly another day to get cheap fuel. Also I sure would like to haul more fuel on those real cheap stops. With 60 gallons and landing with VFR reserves, I'm good for 960 miles at a 215mph cruise. That's pretty good. But what if Im in a hurry and want to run 225 and 13.5gph, now the standard 42 gallons are only good for 2.4 hours and 554 miles. Not enough time for me. SoI decided I want the extra fuel. Tip tanks? Nahh, too expensive and I don't want the weight way out there. Other methods? All require complicated plumbing and valves. I just want to put fuel in the normal fuel cap hole and be done with it.
How am I doing it? Well basically adding onto the existing tanks and extending them out 2 bays. Not as easy as I though it would be. The match drilled holes make this very difficult. I ordered extra ribs, one tank skin, and cut and fit to match both sides.
Smoke
Another thing I did is building a wet wing smoke tank in the left wing walk area. About 7 gallons I think. I had a very good working smoke system in my 6, but the removable tank is just a real hassle and most of the time when I want to throw some smoke, the tank is back in the hanger. Basically and an building baffles between the ribs, leaving the forward lightening hole for the aileron push tube and sealing it up.
Canopy
"Barefoot Billy" Waters is gluing his canopy down on his 8. This is him above (see where he gets his name?). His 6A above now in a test bed for a turbine install. He may not look like an engineer type, but I respect his aviation judgment and I am seriously considering this method. He is quite knowledgeable. Here is a note he posted to a message board.
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I'm sure a lot of you read the same article I did a while back about a fellow in South Africa, I believe, who attached the canopy on his -6 using urethane adhesive. Well, since I broke the first canopy on my -6A, this was very intriguing to me, since I was about attach the canopy on my -8. After sending Chaulkie an email to make sure his was still on the plane, I bit the bullet and ordered me some caulk! I glued it onto the frame yesterday and I believe you'd destroy the canopy and the frame trying to separate the two!! As Chaulkie told me in his email, attaching your canopy using rivets now seems archaic! While it's not as clean a process as drilling and riveting, it takes away any chance of cracking the plexi while drilling. And, since the adhesive is flexible, the canopy is under no stress once the installation is finished. For anyone who is interested in this super simple way of canopy attachment, let me know and I'll point you in the right direction to get the materials. I should have the skirts on in the next couple of weeks, and then I'll try to get the pictures posted on the net somewhere.
Rear Heat in the 8? Oh Yeah!
Battery Box in the tail
Gear tower mod
Some shots of electrical items. Relay trays and so forth And the panel design
My Paint codes are :
2005 Ford C2 Gold Ash Stripe
2004 Ford G2 Redfire Pearl Metallic from 2002-05 Mustangs
GMC 47 Medium Green Metallic 2001-04 Yukon
