Pitot Tubes... On the fence

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:54 pm

CJ, I was just thinking the SAME thing!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:57 pm

He really means well, but my ADHD can't follow his threads!

CJ

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:15 pm

captain_john wrote:

He really means well, but my ADHD can't follow his threads!

CJ

I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to send that guy THIS BOOK.

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:22 pm

Too funny!

I am perfectly happy to agree to disagree with CJ. Things like this come up from time to time.

Also, the lightning thing may very well be just an old wife's tale. Who knows.

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:13 pm

My understanding from basic electrons 101 (I've only got an associate's degree in electronology so take it for what it's worth) is that CJ is right. Electron flow is going to be on the outside of the conductor or so I was taught. HOWEVER, I believe that the current from a lightning strick is going to to flow around the oustside, of every piece of metal in the plane which could explain the internal bonding.

So... you're both right!

C'mon guys, group hug!

I apologize. I'm on cold medicine right now.

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:04 pm

Back to the original topic... pitot tubes...

One of the reasons I have been leaning towards the stock mount is cost... cost of a real pitot. I mean if you aren't going to go with a heated pitot, why drop $200 on some fancy uheated pitot and $50 on a mast when the Van's SS tube will do???

Anyway...
I got to thinking (uh-oh), I have the mast already, and my friend and neighbor has a 4-axis CNC machine and commercial lathe in his garage. I'm talkin the real deal here, not some homeowner versions. He has offered to help me machine up any parts I want for the RV... so what about a home brewed pitot tube? I mean if one of the options it to use a bent piece of AL or SS tubing, how hard could it be to design my own? Surely it would be less expensive than some of the alternatives (Gretz, Dynon).

Hmmmm... pondering.

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:55 pm

Brad, that would be a nice touch. Go for it!

As far as the lightning strike stuff, sounds like a good one for myth busters!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:56 pm

'nuff said!

CJ

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:48 pm

Ooh.. how about an honest to goodness stainless steel pitot tube? Not just the cheap tube Van's sells but a real-live pitot tube. Could he machine such a beast? Or you could experiment with custom shapes. Have the tube stick out of a dagger or a snake. As long as it's aerodynamic and the air is not distrubed before it enters the tube.

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 10:07 am

That would be cool! Are we talking combo Pitot/Static tube here? Does Vans have static too?

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:40 am

svanarts wrote:Or you could experiment with custom shapes. Have the tube stick out of a dagger or a snake.

Maybe a $ sign would be more fitting.

jimrobinette · Post by **jimrobinette** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 9:17 am

CJ,

Oh please no!!!!!

He is one of the major reasons I am here and don't spend much time over there!!!

captain_john wrote:Well, we better get George (GMCjetpilot) here to settle it!

He could go on with a 10,000 word diatribe and disagree with us BOTH!

CJ

Post by **Spike** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 2:10 pm

Hey Jim, good to see you!! Been busy?

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 9:50 pm

Hi Jim!

Good to see your voice!

How is the shop coming along?

CJ

jimrobinette · Post by **jimrobinette** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 5:45 am

Hey guys,

Yeah, been VERY busy. Just returned from Germany a couple of days ago for mission planning on a shared mission. But I did have a couple of weeks of leave before that. Been working on the shop, but work has been a real kick in the pants as far as time away from home. I have been gone about 50% of the time since the first of May. I have made six trips to Russia since then, and have another coming up in two weeks. I have tired to follow the boards, but with increase in number of posts, and the fact that I don't have internet access for 10 day periods, makes it hard to keep up. There are a huge number of threads whenever I get back!

Good news is that the Open Skies off-season will soon be upon us and I will have much more time for work. Add in DC traffic and I have got nothing done on the plane since moving down here from Newport in the spring.

Guys, after traveling to and seeing and even flying in military aircraft from Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria, I am bewildered by the freedom we have in aviaition here in the US. You should see the look in the eyes of the pilots from those countries when I tell them I am building my own plane. It is a real foreign concept to them. I don't know if it is a money, regulation or some other reason, but it doesn't seem to be a common practice over there. It is one of those things that you can't appreciate until you don't have it or see how the other half live. I guess it would be like your parents telling you to enjoy your youth, because soon it will be gone and you just looking at them like they don't know what they are talking about.

Anyway, I guess I can sum up my travels like this. Let me just say that it is nice to be able to come home and have a septic system that you can put toliet paper in the toliet, as opposed to putting it in the trash can. Sorry for the graphic, but sometimes the little things can best illustrate the point. Enjoy what we have here in the US, as it is the best in the world.

CJ,

Have pictures of my breaker panel, and would like to give you a call next week as I am on leave. I am taking Shannon to Charlottesville for the weekend.

Take care guys!

Spike wrote:Hey Jim, good to see you!! Been busy?

captain_john wrote:Hi Jim!

Good to see your voice!

How is the shop coming along?

CJ

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 5:50 am

Jim, I chat with a wannabe plane builder in Poland from www.homebuiltairplanes.com on www.skype.com and he tells me what things are like for him. We do have it REAL good here!

Sure, gimme a call! I would be glad to help out!

Keep in touch!

CJ