AN Fittings

[rongawer]

Originally Posted by DanH

$20 bucks says those are cheap knockoffs that do not meet the AN standard.

Same folks also sell "ninja swords": http://www.wildweapons.com/

So what's your point? I'm not aware of anyone trying to sell you name brand parts with fake labels.

You obviously don't approve - so don't buy them. But just because you don't like them doesn't mean it won't help someone out with a good source for inexpensive parts.

[DanH]

Originally Posted by rongawer

So what's your point?

They are "inexpensive parts" that look a lot like real AN hardware, but are not...a detail overlooked when recommending them. If spotted in a pre-buy, I'd point them out, just as I would hardware store bolts.

[8 ball]

Couldn't have said it better, Ron. Experimental aircraft are not for everyone.

[Bevan]

Originally Posted by rongawer

Anyone who thinks their experimental airplane is being built to the same standard as a part 23 aircraft is really missing the point of "Amateur Build".

If you think "amateur" in the above statement means "less quality", your wrong as far as I am concerned. I don't think you can/should make such a broad statement. I expect my "amateur" built airplane to be built as well (quality) if not better than certified. Check the meaning of term certified. I built mine the best I could with the best parts and practices I could. I'm an amateur at heart. Look up the definition if you need to.

I like to save money as much as the next guy but if I end up with two airplanes worth of airplane so be it. I'm only doing this once.

Be careful out there. Physics doesn't care and flying is not natural for us mere mortals, yet deadly.

Cheers.

Bevan

PS I didn't install the plastic brake lines and associated fittings as supplied in the kit. The Van's line of aircraft are well designed and proven. But just because the kit includes a certain standard of hardware chosen for unknown reasons/priorities (cost, weight, serviceability, ease of availability etc), doesn't mean I should blindly install it. The design goals may not align with my operational goals.

[Bevan]

There is a difference between "amateur" built and "experimental". It is my understanding there are several classes of "experimental" aviation in the US. Exhibition, ex-military, One-off designs (true experimental), plans-built/made from scratch, kits etc. I often feel the kit industry as we know it today really should be considered "amateur-built" as true experimenting is largely bypassed in this course.

Bevan

[erich weaver]

If the debate is over, I would like to drift on to a related topic. Could people share a description and hopefully photos of their set up for pressure testing their home made hoses? I made mine to save a dime and they have worked fine, but I confess that I never pressure tested them before installing.
Thanks

Erich

[longline]

of hoses in my shop has always been a worry. I note, with interest, that the site the OP provided shows hardware to test hoses built from their material. Basically it amounts to an AN cap, another AN fitting for the other end that includes provisions for a schrader valve. Easy to obtain from our normal sources, and so simple I wonder why I never thought of it.

I am in the process of getting these fittings together. I propose to use my strut pump to (carefully) pressurize the new hoses I build to reasonable test pressure. Water immersion is called for, as well as seeing if the hose holds constant pressure over a period of time.

I would recommend the use of high pressure schrader valves and robust fittings if the strut pump is used. I have good quality gauges that I can tee into this scheme to ensure that pressure levels are known and monitored.

I agree with the commenters concerning the use of aerospace quality materials in building hoses for our steeds. This is one place that quality will lend a great deal of comfort. along with the safety. I would not hesitate to use the material the OP suggested on a hot rod, but not my airplane. YMMV

[erich weaver]

Ah yes, pressure testing fittings are here:
http://www.anfittingsdirect.com/an-f...afc887512f46a6

Inexpensive too. Of course, no guarantee they are legitimate AN pressure testing fittings
Erich

[TS Flightlines]

on pressure testing of hoses. We have 2 different versions. Steve has a really nice one in his shop thats pretty automated. Mine, well when I built it I was doing some mobile stuff and needed a manual unit. Mine is pretty simple. A parts washer cabinet from Northern Tool, a 10,000 psi hand hydraulic pump to pressurize the hose, connecting tubes and hose to a branch manifold with 3 ports for the most common sizes, and various adapters and plugs to connect and seal off the hoses. NOT PRETTY, but very effective. Pressure gauge to 5000 psi. We normally test to 3000---because thats the rated working pressure of the hose we use (even though some applications like oil cooler hoses the running pressures might be 90 psi). So yep it way overkill. We've run some test hoses to 9,900 psi for 5 minutes, the reason for the cabinet. ( ever seen a hose end blow off at 9,000 psi----sometimes its fun just to hear the bang.

Anyway, you can take your air compressor, and make a couple of adapters and do a leak check by submerging the ends in a water bucket. Yeah, 100 psi isnt much, but it will check the fitting to hose integration especially for those of you that use reusable hose ends with neoprene lined hose.
BTW---you DONT have to have adapter fittings made from unobtainum to test stuff. Mine are industrial hydraulic fittings that are off the shelf items available anywhere. Remember, when I built my tester, it had to be mobile, and I was on a budget and didnt have $6000 to put into one. Its served us well (on the second pump now!) but we fully intend on upgrading to a new version that is automated, and may have a printer thingy to show the test data. But is upward of $25,000 right now.

Long story short, there are several inexpensive ways to test hoses. MOST of the time, if you use good components and they are not mismatched, and assemble them to what the manufacturer procedures are, then 999 out of 1000 you'll be good. With hose ends now being made on CNC equipment, and good quality hose having multiple inspections for conformity, most everything is very predicable and repeatable.

Tom

[rongawer]

Originally Posted by erich weaver

Ah yes, pressure testing fittings are here:
http://www.anfittingsdirect.com/an-f...afc887512f46a6

Inexpensive too. Of course, no guarantee they are legitimate AN pressure testing fittings
Erich

Ha, you made my morning Erich - thanks.

I'll have to be sure I use a certified Mk1 eyeball to verify my pressure gauge is actually reading legitimate pressure as well, on my inexpensive test kit...

On a serious note, I found that the "cap and Schrader valve" test kit is good. I connected my garage air hose to it, pressed up my lines to 150#, put them in a bucket for a bubble check, let them sit for an hour and checked again.

I considered using my 1800# nitrogen bottle and my Baron's 10:1 strut pump to really pump the sucker up, but then I realized I didn't have certified nitrogen.