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Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

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WurlyBird

Joined: 16 May 2008
Posts: 207
Location: North Pole, Alaska

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 7:57 pm Post subject: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

With much anticipation I have opened a bunch of boxes full of parts for the Kitfox and now i have a few questions I am hoping you all can help with.



First, in an attempt to find an easy solution to having a good static reading, especially since my doors are always off, I purchased a combo pitot/static from Aircraft Spruce.  It is very simple and has a second tube below the pitot with a single hole drilled in the side to act as a static (should it have a hole in both sides?).  All I have to do is replace the single tube in the wing with two.  The pitot tube is a good 4 inches shorter then the one installed though.  The stock one lines up just about even with the leading edge and this caught my eye.  Will there be any error if the pitot is 4 inches behind the leading edge?  Can this cause airspeed errors at higher angles of attack when the speed of the air is faster then the speed of the plane through it?  Think it will be significant?



Secondly, I purchased the wing strut fairing kit which comes with a couple pieces of sheet metal to make a single fairing where the two tubes come together.  This question is for those that have installed the kit, so if you don't get what I am describing dont worry about it.  So I was just planning on trimming the tubes as I installed them and then filling any gaps with glass filler and sanding.  I would rather not use the sheet metal at all.  Anyone have some experience and/or pictures they can share on this?



Thanks for any info

_________________
James
Kitfox 3 / 582 / 70" IVO 2 blade GA
50 hrs on the 582 swapping for HKS 700E and Avid Cowl.

kitfox(at)ida.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:20 pm Post subject: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

I purchased a double tube that mounts in the wing. Works great. This may be 

the only response before it turns into a bragging rotax thread that has 

nothing to do with what you asked. Good luck.

Albert Smith

5TD NSI 140T Cap 140

MudLake, Idaho



--------------------------------------------------

From: "WurlyBird" <james.t.trizzino(at)us.army.mil>

Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 8:57 PM

To: <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <james.t.trizzino(at)us.army.mil>



 With much anticipation I have opened a bunch of boxes full of parts for 

 the Kitfox and now i have a few questions I am hoping you all can help 

 with.



 First, in an attempt to find an easy solution to having a good static 

 reading, especially since my doors are always off, I purchased a combo 

 pitot/static from Aircraft Spruce.  It is very simple and has a second 

 tube below the pitot with a single hole drilled in the side to act as a 

 static (should it have a hole in both sides?).  All I have to do is 

 replace the single tube in the wing with two.  The pitot tube is a good 4 

 inches shorter then the one installed though.  The stock one lines up just 

 about even with the leading edge and this caught my eye.  Will there be 

 any error if the pitot is 4 inches behind the leading edge?  Can this 

 cause airspeed errors at higher angles of attack when the speed of the air 

 is faster then the speed of the plane through it?  Think it will be 

 significant?



 Secondly, I purchased the wing strut fairing kit which comes with a couple 

 pieces of sheet metal to make a single fairing where the two tubes come 

 together.  This question is for those that have installed the kit, so if 

 you don't get what I am describing dont worry about it.  So I was just 

 planning on trimming the tubes as I installed them and then filling any 

 gaps with glass filler and sanding.  I would rather not use the sheet 

 metal at all.  Anyone have some experience and/or pictures they can share 

 on this?



 Thanks for any info



 --------

 James

 Kitfox 3 / 582 / 70&quot; IVO 2 blade GA

 50 hrs on the Fox in between deployments,

      now she lies in wait





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=333506#333506

kitfox(at)ida.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:24 pm Post subject: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

The aluminum for the struts is light and easy. Looks like crap. Fit some 

foam blocks in and cover with your covering of choice. Looks good light and 

easy.

Albert Smith

MudLake, Idaho

5TD NSI CAP 140



--------------------------------------------------

From: "WurlyBird" <james.t.trizzino(at)us.army.mil>

Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 8:57 PM

To: <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <james.t.trizzino(at)us.army.mil>



 With much anticipation I have opened a bunch of boxes full of parts for 

 the Kitfox and now i have a few questions I am hoping you all can help 

 with.



 First, in an attempt to find an easy solution to having a good static 

 reading, especially since my doors are always off, I purchased a combo 

 pitot/static from Aircraft Spruce.  It is very simple and has a second 

 tube below the pitot with a single hole drilled in the side to act as a 

 static (should it have a hole in both sides?).  All I have to do is 

 replace the single tube in the wing with two.  The pitot tube is a good 4 

 inches shorter then the one installed though.  The stock one lines up just 

 about even with the leading edge and this caught my eye.  Will there be 

 any error if the pitot is 4 inches behind the leading edge?  Can this 

 cause airspeed errors at higher angles of attack when the speed of the air 

 is faster then the speed of the plane through it?  Think it will be 

 significant?



 Secondly, I purchased the wing strut fairing kit which comes with a couple 

 pieces of sheet metal to make a single fairing where the two tubes come 

 together.  This question is for those that have installed the kit, so if 

 you don't get what I am describing dont worry about it.  So I was just 

 planning on trimming the tubes as I installed them and then filling any 

 gaps with glass filler and sanding.  I would rather not use the sheet 

 metal at all.  Anyone have some experience and/or pictures they can share 

 on this?



 Thanks for any info



 --------

 James

 Kitfox 3 / 582 / 70&quot; IVO 2 blade GA

 50 hrs on the Fox in between deployments,

      now she lies in wait





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=333506#333506

7suds(at)Chartermi.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:59 am Post subject: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

James,

I do not have any input for you on the pitot tube, however, this fall I

reworked the fairings on my 5. Here is what I did. They were finished by the

original builder using the aluminum wraps riveted together and sealed and

finished with Dacron fabric and PolyTone. I did not like that look so I

peeled the aluminum and fabric off and commenced to refinishing. I acquired

a short piece of fairing from one of the many helpful member of this list

and used it to extend the lower section of the fairings because the previous

builder just ran then long enough to reach under the aluminum wrap. I wanted

the fairings to have a smooth finish so I used a DA sander and a file board

to remove the extrusion lines that were in the fairings from mfg. I used

AeroPoxy with Flox to attach and fill all voids and seam the fairings

together. I used foam blocking as backers and fill under the Aeropoxy to

keep it light. I wet sanded to finish the plastic and shot it with a coat of

2 part epoxy primer so it would bite into the plastic, from there I used a

primer surfacer and final coat was white and clear coat automotive paint. It

is not the best way or the recommended way to do the fairings, it is just

how I chose to do mine. It all depends on how you want it to look and

function and the time and resources you have available to get it there.

Another slick job I have seen on the fairings is on the McBean's Radial

Kitfox, very nice. I attached a couple shot of my finished struts.



Lloyd Cudnohufsky

Mod 5 Outback 912ul IVO IFA

Northern Mi.  



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WurlyBird

Joined: 16 May 2008
Posts: 207
Location: North Pole, Alaska

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:56 pm Post subject: Re: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

Absolutely beautiful work Lloyd.  Blending the two fairings together like that is what I had in mind.  I can guarantee however that I will not end up with as nice of a finish but hopefully I can get the shapes similar.  I am assuming that the PVC is pretty easy to get a shape on with some medium sand paper.



As far as the pitot, if I use the existing mounting hole in the wing the face will end up about 4 inches below and 4 inches behind the leading edge where the stock one is 4 inches below and even with the LE.  I will see if I can move it forward a little without causing too much trouble.  I believe that there should not be much error if it is a little behind the LE.  It may read a little high while at high AOAs but I am not normally looking at the ASI at times like that anyway.

_________________
James
Kitfox 3 / 582 / 70" IVO 2 blade GA
50 hrs on the 582 swapping for HKS 700E and Avid Cowl.

nichzimmerman

Joined: 04 Feb 2011
Posts: 2
Location: Warner Robins, GA

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:35 am Post subject: Re: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

There are plenty of certified birds that have the pitot tube in a similar location, so you shouldn't have any issues.

_________________
Flyin' a Kitfox 2
Rotax 532

7suds(at)Chartermi.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:58 pm Post subject: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

James,

Yes, the PVC cuts pretty easy, I used a dry file board with 180 grit to

rough off the ridges and blend, then moved to wet sanding with a long block

and progressively finer paper. One thing on the PVC when working it dry is

that it tends to pickup static and the filings will cling to everything.



Lloyd

--

rawheels

Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 89
Location: Westfield, IN

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 3:29 am Post subject: Re: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

I didn't like the idea of the metal fairing either.  So, I slowly sanded away on the front strut cover until it matched up with the leading edge on the aft one.  I'll try to get a better picture later.  It doesn't look nearly as good as Lloyd's, but it does look nice.



Also, I'd like to put in a plug for the Krylon Fusion PVC paint.  I used it thinking that it would be a cheap temporary solution.  However, it was extremely easy to use, and it has held up without a blemish to regular sod runway use.  I was really lucky that their color was exactly the same color as the Aerothane on my plane, although the finish isn't as shiny on the PVC.  



Anyway, you just wipe down the struts, spray them with the paint, and then wait a week for them to fully cure (the hardest part).  What I really like about it is that I can remove the struts, and then snap them back on, and it doesn't affect the paint/covering.

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_________________
Kitfox IV-1200
Indianapolis, IN

7suds(at)Chartermi.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 4:00 pm Post subject: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

Ryan,

WOW! I like the look of your plane, I never thought of using the Krylon

Fusion on the struts but I have used it on other plastic parts and you are

right about it's durability, great stuff. The Kitfox 5 I am currently

rebuilding came from the Indianapolis area, it had been ground looped there

back in about 2005. 



--

rawheels

Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 89
Location: Westfield, IN

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 5:28 pm Post subject: Re: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

Here are the additional pics of the just cut, paint & install method.  It isn't near as nice as Lloyd's and other installations, but it is cheap, easy, lightweight & removable.  Another disadvantage is there are large gaps at each end (fairings are 96", struts are a little longer).

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_________________
Kitfox IV-1200
Indianapolis, IN

WurlyBird

Joined: 16 May 2008
Posts: 207
Location: North Pole, Alaska

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

Ryan, just curious, but do you think you would ever actually remove the fairings?  The work looks great.  So for whatever dumb reason I actually threw one of the fairings on the scale and it weighed in at about 3 lbs so I am estimating about 15 lbs installed, does this sound about right?  I have been hoping to put the KF on a little diet while I am doing all these mods, putting on as little weight as possible anyway.  The good news is that the wing is off and the fuel tank install has started as well as the new pitot tube.  The lift strut fairing has been shaped around the fuselage and now are ready for the actual mounting.  Slow but sure progress will be made.

_________________
James
Kitfox 3 / 582 / 70" IVO 2 blade GA
50 hrs on the 582 swapping for HKS 700E and Avid Cowl.

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:48 pm Post subject: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

Ryan,



I see you are quite the craftsman.  Those cuts are spot on.  I don't know 

how you did it.



Lowell



--------------------------------------------------

From: "rawheels" <rawheels(at)yahoo.com>

Sent: Friday, March 18, 2011 6:28 PM

To: <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: Re: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Here are the additional pics of the just cut, paint & install method.  It 

 isn't near as nice as Lloyd's and other installations, but it is cheap, 

 easy, lightweight & removable.  Another disadvantage is there are large 

 gaps at each end (fairings are 96", struts are a little longer).



 --------

 Ryan Wheeler

 Kitfox IV-1200

 Indianapolis, IN





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=334370#334370





 Attachments:



 http://forums.matronics.com//files/img00067_20110318_2056_131.jpg

 http://forums.matronics.com//files/img00064_20110318_2053_293.jpg

 http://forums.matronics.com//files/img00060_20110318_2052_607.jpg

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:36 pm Post subject: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

I have been watching this.  On my first Model IV, I did as suggested, 

sanding off the extrusion lines prepping with micro and painting.  I used 

fabric at the V end as that what was the manual's way.  This time, I had the 

PVC, but weighed them and this time my goal is to be as light as possible so 

went the aluminum way.  They came out pretty good, though it was a ton of 

work - mostly in figuring out how to do it.  Finished they added 3.5 lbs to 

the weight of the bare powder coated strut.  To cover the V, I used two bid 

fiberglass moldings and micro.  We may be able to eventually offer these as 

a kit.



Lowell



--------------------------------------------------

From: "WurlyBird" <james.t.trizzino(at)us.army.mil>

Sent: Friday, March 18, 2011 7:04 PM

To: <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: Re: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <james.t.trizzino(at)us.army.mil>



 Ryan, just curious, but do you think you would ever actually remove the 

 fairings?  The work looks great.  So for whatever dumb reason I actually 

 threw one of the fairings on the scale and it weighed in at about 3 lbs so 

 I am estimating about 15 lbs installed, does this sound about right?  I 

 have been hoping to put the KF on a little diet while I am doing all these 

 mods, putting on as little weight as possible anyway.  The good news is 

 that the wing is off and the fuel tank install has started as well as the 

 new pitot tube.  The lift strut fairing has been shaped around the 

 fuselage and now are ready for the actual mounting.  Slow but sure 

 progress will be made.



 --------

 James

 Kitfox 3 / 582 / 70&quot; IVO 2 blade GA

 50 hrs on the Fox in between deployments,

      now she lies in wait





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=334377#334377

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Tom Jones

Joined: 12 Mar 2006
Posts: 752
Location: Ellensburg, WA

Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:43 am Post subject: Re: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

Don't forget you need to taper the rear fairing at the fuselage end to fold the wings.

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_________________
Tom Jones
Classic IV
503 Rotax, 72 inch Two blade Warp
Ellensburg, WA

7suds(at)Chartermi.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:06 pm Post subject: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

Lowell,

You never cease to amaze me, they look great. Now if I am reading this

correctly, are you saying the entire fairing is made of aluminum and the "V"

end is from a fiberglass mold?



Lloyd



--

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 6:31 pm Post subject: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

Lloyd,



Not exactly as you describe.  The fairings are aluminum - .014" thickness. 

They are trimmed to come together in the V.  Then a fiberglass shape about 

2" wide  and appropriately contoured (from a mold) is glued into the V with 

Hysol and then faired in with micro.  For those wondering about the very 

thin aluminum, I poured two part Urethane foam into the structure for 

rigidity and to hold the skins in position.  I thought of putting the "No 

Push" stickers on them, but after finishing, I don't think they are that 

fragile.   As I mentioned, I wanted the speed from the fairings, but didn't 

want to add more weight than I had to.  Incidentally, I planned on using the 

two part Urethane under two BID fiberglass on my first project.  I had 

everything made up and was ready for the install when a neighbor at the 

airport told me of some serious corrosion from the urethane foam on 

something he had done.  I definitely didn't want corrosion on the lift 

struts so trashed everything and went with the PVC.   I did a mock-up 

though, using a piece of 4130 steel tubing.  I masked it lengthwise and left 

one third clean but bare.  The other two thirds I sand blasted.  Half of 

that was painted with the epoxy chromate primer available then and the other 

half remained sandblasted but unprotected. Then the whole thing was 

assembled as planned using a section of fiberglass with the foam.  I had 

three stripes, natural metal, sandblasted metal and sandblasted and anti 

corrosion primed.  I cut of sections of the foam and fiberglass periodically 

over two or three years and found no corrosion what-so-ever on any of the 

surfaces, so this time, I believe it is a non issue.  Maybe he used the foam 

from a spray can - I don't know.



Another note.  My equipment won't handle full length material so each length 

of tube is covered by four aluminum sections.  The sections are formed so 

they pretty much snap together.   Aluminum bands are positioned and Hysolled 

over the joints as seen on the lift strut brackets - second picture.



Lowell

--------------------------------------------------

From: "Lloyd & Lorrie Cudnohufsky" <7suds(at)Chartermi.net>

Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2011 2:03 PM

To: <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: RE: Re: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???



[quote] 

 <7suds(at)chartermi.net>



 Lowell,

 You never cease to amaze me, they look great. Now if I am reading this

 correctly, are you saying the entire fairing is made of aluminum and the 

 "V"

 end is from a fiberglass mold?



 Lloyd



 --

rawheels

Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 89
Location: Westfield, IN

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 3:43 am Post subject: Re: Wing strut Fairings and a new Pitot tube???

 	  WurlyBird wrote: 	
		  Ryan, just curious, but do you think you would ever actually remove the fairings? 	




I plan on unsnapping them to visual the struts at each annual, and as Tom Jones mentioned, I'd have to unsnap them and maybe rotate them vertically if I ever wanted to fold the wings.

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