|
-
POSTING RULES

-
Donate yearly (please).
-
Advertise in here!
-
Today's Posts
|
Insert Pics
|

10-06-2016, 06:41 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Dryden, MI
Posts: 66
|
|
Thanks everyone, your feedback is appreciated.
I was typing my question about the fuel level sensor but rvbuilder2002 beat me to it. I was planning on a fuel flow sensor as well. My only experience with airplane fuel gauges is the Diamond DA20 that I normally fly and that ones is only accurate when the tank is empty.
It sounds like the main disadvantages of the QB wings are:
No deluxe fuel cap - thought the retrofit cap is an option.
No capacitive fuel level sensors
No long range fuel tanks
How about the fuselage? Other than trying to figure out what the next step is what are the drawbacks?
Is the skin for canopy latch already cut and is it installed? I was going with a tip up and didn't really like the look of the original latch.
Eric
|

10-06-2016, 07:46 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Tenino, WA
Posts: 17
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002
Another method used in the past is to install a standard float sender in the second bay. With it located very close to the inboard rib the accuracy is just about the same as when it is in the outboard bay.
|
I thought about using float senders in the 2nd bay, and it was the simplest option. Ultimately I wanted capacitance based senders so I installed 12" Belite capacitance fuel probes (0-5v output for EFIS) instead. Mounted them near the top of blank cover plates and just formed the probe shape with a slight bend up (to the top of the tank), then 90 degrees down so the tip is at the bottom of the tank to span the full-to-empty fuel level range. Took some creative mocking-up, bending, install, tweak, reinstall (rinse and repeat) to get the final bends correct and fit correctly, but is a nice (but not necessarily cheap) capacitance probe option instead of the normal float senders.
Chris
__________________
Chris Michalak
Tenino, WA (KOLM - Olympia, WA)
RV-8: QB Wings
N828CM - Reserved
EAA Lifer
2017 VAF dues happily paid
|

10-06-2016, 08:21 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Tenino, WA
Posts: 17
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by efitzgerald
It sounds like the main disadvantages of the QB wings are:
No deluxe fuel cap - thought the retrofit cap is an option.
No capacitive fuel level sensors
No long range fuel tanks
|
While not part of the QB package, there are options if you're up for it:
Bendable capacitance fuel probes can replace the float sender or even capacitance plates like Vans used to offer. You can mount one either in the inboard bay where the float sender normally is, or in the 2nd bay mounted to the rear tank baffle if installing flop tube(s).
Depending on your definition of 'long-range', there is one option in the Hotel Whiskey ER tanks. it's only 9 more gallons of usable fuel, but buys you another hour or so of flight time.
I'm doing both on my -8 QB wings, which are identical to the 7. I don't know if you can drill out the standard fuel cap flanges and replace with the deluxe ones though. Someone at the factory told me that was possible when I was deciding on QB or SB wings, but I've never confirmed if true.
__________________
Chris Michalak
Tenino, WA (KOLM - Olympia, WA)
RV-8: QB Wings
N828CM - Reserved
EAA Lifer
2017 VAF dues happily paid
|

10-06-2016, 10:27 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by TajMahal
so the tip is at the bottom of the tank to span the full-to-empty fuel level range.
|
Glad you like what you have but any sensor (float or capacitive) that is located only in the inboard rib bay can only measure approx 70% of the total fuel capacity because wing dihedral puts the other 30% above the sensor.
Not that it matters... most people consider the lower part of the fuel capacity to be the portion that we care to measure with any accuracy.
__________________
Opinions, information and comments are my own unless stated otherwise. They do not necessarily represent the direction/opinions of my employer.
Scott McDaniels
Van's Aircraft Engineering Prototype Shop Manager
Hubbard, Oregon
RV-6A (aka "Junkyard Special ")
|

10-07-2016, 05:05 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 98
|
|
I would say the matter of details like caps and senders is trivial compared to the enormous advantage that so much of the work is already done with a QB, it really is a mountain of time and effort saved. Definitely go for the QB, you'll have plenty of building with that to keep you satisfied. And I guess you could always build new tanks for it if you really want the deluxe caps!
__________________
John Keen
RV-7 flying
Gold Coast, Australia
|

10-07-2016, 05:26 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: 08A
Posts: 9,500
|
|
What does the deluxe fuel cap do better than the standard?
__________________
Dan Horton
RV-8 SS
Barrett IO-390
|

10-07-2016, 06:03 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Locust Grove, GA
Posts: 621
|
|
Depends on your goals
There were several RV-14's under construction at Synergy when I was there and a couple more starting next week. I had a chance to talk with one of the builders. He owned an engineering firm on the east coast, but was taking two weeks every month to come to the west coast and build his airplane. So I asked him why he went slow build vs. quick build. The short answer was that it was quicker than waiting the many months for the QB RV-14. Seems there are extensive delays in getting RV-14 QB fuselage and wings from the Philippines.
So while there may be savings in time actually working on your plane, there may be an advantage if your goal is to get airborne in the quickest (calendar) time. I'm sure that depends on the model too, but I built an RV-10 fuselage in three weeks vs. the four months or so I would have waited for a QB fuselage. The improvement in my skills and knowledge was worth the extra cost.
__________________
Krea Ellis
Locust Grove, GA
DA20-A1 "Princess Amelia" - gone home to Amelia Island
RV-7A Phase 2
RV-10 under construction at Synergy Air South
Last edited by KatanaPilot : 10-07-2016 at 06:04 AM.
Reason: corrected text errors
|

10-07-2016, 08:28 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Tenino, WA
Posts: 17
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002
Glad you like what you have but any sensor (float or capacitive) that is located only in the inboard rib bay can only measure approx 70% of the total fuel capacity because wing dihedral puts the other 30% above the sensor.
Not that it matters... most people consider the lower part of the fuel capacity to be the portion that we care to measure with any accuracy.
|
Completely agree. Should have clarified full to empty of that bay vs the entire tank. Regardless, point is QB is a great option, great quality and you can still have many of the other features if you're up for a bit of extra work to incorporate them. Even then, a major time savings vs. SB.
Back to pounding rivets now. 
__________________
Chris Michalak
Tenino, WA (KOLM - Olympia, WA)
RV-8: QB Wings
N828CM - Reserved
EAA Lifer
2017 VAF dues happily paid
|

10-07-2016, 11:06 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Sausalito, CA
Posts: 325
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanH
What does the deluxe fuel cap do better than the standard?
|
Open and close!
Seriously, the locking deluxe caps on Van's website are very similar to the caps on my Mooney. They operate very easily, seal extremely well and look good.
I have the standard caps on my RV-8. I can't open them by hand... have to use my fuel stick. And they really don't look that great. Not a big deal, but those are the differences for you.
__________________
Joe Zuffoletto
RV-8 (flying)
Fullerton, CA (KFUL)
|

10-07-2016, 03:19 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 886
|
|
I hear a lot of people mentioning the high quality of the QuickBuild kits. I wonder if I got bad ones or if my standards are just too high. Hopefully, the latter!
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:08 AM.
|