RV-8 NACA ducts: Screens?

[Ron RV8]

Find some PVC pipe a little larger OD than the ID of the NACA vent

Cut 2 rings for each vent and cut each lengthwise, to allow insertion and give some spring tension to hold in place

Sandwich your chosen screen between the rings

Add a couple of drops of thin CA

So far so good @ 300 hrs...

[goatflieg]

Some good ideas here. Actually, I was thinking of something like this... sealing the screen across the initial opening and sandwiching it between the sheet metal and the duct with RTV & blind rivets. Not sure if the screen layer would influence how much air would enter the duct. Permanence vs. repairable is also an issue. Some of the solutions here are repairable... but the opening is still an invitation to nesting critters. Will wait to hear more feedback before committing to this plan. The photo is for illustration only. Obviously I would trim and seal it before installing. Also going with synthetic mesh, rather than metal. Not as durable... but no corrosion issues.

[Raymo]

Consider maintenance (replacement) down the road. Peeling the duct off to replace a broken screen (some kid will poke at it) won't be fun.

[drdriddle]

So, just a quick thought. how about a magnet with the same diameter as that screen (Ron's duct with the round screen above) attached to one of those 'remove before flight' bright red lanyards. Seals the opening on the ground, super easy off/on and storage??

[RV6_flyer]

Originally Posted by BillL

Not an 8, but I just formed a cup of aluminum screen over 1 1/2" ID PCV and the cup fit perfectly inside the scat tube, secured it with RTV (X2).

My RV-6 has similar. I used EPOXY to glue the screen cut round to fit in at the SCAT tube clamp location.

[MarkW]

I went for a local flight one day and had water? coming out of the vent. I was a little puzzled as I keep the plane in a hanger. For a couple of seconds I suspected my hanger mate had washed my plane. As I reached forward to close the vent a very large slimy tree frog exited backwards along with a lot more water/slim.
Its funny how well these vents work to keep water out. I have flown in heavy rain and never had water come out of a open vent. Sometimes a little water if it has been outside in the rain but then it is still very little. A guess a nose wheel model would not even have that issue.

[Flyin'Bryan]

Marty, I have been flowing Steve's progress for a long time now. Here is a link to his kit log for the naca vent. There are several posts showing how he prepped his.

http://www.mykitlog.com/users/displa...=122597&row=76

[izzybear]

Originally Posted by DanH

Study the plans carefully. A lot of builders miss the snake guard.

Freakin' hilarious, Dan!!!

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by drdriddle

So, just a quick thought. how about a magnet with the same diameter as that screen (Ron's duct with the round screen above) attached to one of those 'remove before flight' bright red lanyards. Seals the opening on the ground, super easy off/on and storage??

Last I checked, magnets don't work so well on aluminum and plastic.

[Wiley]

Highly recommend. Hit a swarm of honeybees one day in a 172 just as the front wheel left the ground. My 4 and 8 year olds in the back seat began screaming at the top of their lungs as about 15 bees were suddenly flying/crawling on them as the air vents were pointed at them to keep them cool. A real test of your concentration. I put screen door screen over the circular end of the NACA inlets prior to sliding the SCAT on . works great and is difficult to see from the outside. Minus one reason for potential chaos.