Hot Tunnels - Page 2

vic syracuse · #11 11-28-2005, 01:27 PM

What about meeting for lunch at Cedar Key? We like to go there.

Vic

brenthg · #12 11-28-2005, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vic syracuse

What about meeting for lunch at Cedar Key? We like to go there.

Vic

Hey, that would be a nice trip. We're looking for quick hops before our long trip back to Kansas this Spring. As soon as we get some paint on the outside, we'll coordinate a rendevous.

Thans for the offer Vic....would like to see your -10 and see how you did the interior.

Brent

rv6ejguy · #13 06-09-2006, 10:21 AM

What is the latest consensus on the RV10 hot tunnel problem or is there one? Has Vans or anyone else flying one devised any fixes? I'm about to tackle that area on mine and want to know if I should be adding any vents or insulation.

brules · #14 06-09-2006, 04:57 PM

just reading interesting threads and came across this one. Some time has elapsed and seems a fix for this problem hasn't been adressed. Trouble shooting this from the outside looking in from what I have read indicates that the feed air for the heater system is being taken from the pressure side of the engine cooling plenum. The air is being directed via scat tubes to heat shrouds on the mufflers or exhaust pipes, and then being sent to a firewall mounted valve assembly that I assume is metal because of previous post suggesting isolation barriers. The problem is the firewall is getting hot and tranfer of the heat is superheating a tunnel structure inside of the aircraft?
If the heater feed tubes were removed from the valve assemblies and vented overboard outside of the engine compartment, and the aircraft test flown would the tunnel be cool or remain hot? If still hot I would guess you have an issue with getting the air out of the hot side of the plenum. Using part of the cooling air to feed the heater muffs and dumping it out on the hot side dosen't help. Where is the oil cooler dumping it's hot air and is it robbing it's feed air from the same cool side of the plenum? What else is robbing cool air from the plenum side making it hot and dumping in the hot side, mag blast tubes, fuel pump cooling tube etc? It may be there is just too much hot air inside the lower cowl that cannot exscape rapidly. You may need cowl flaps like production aircraft utilize or clean up the exit area of the lower cowl. What is in the way, landing gear and exhaust pipes and breather tube restricting the area? One post indicated fuel vaporlocking? I think this is a serious problem that should be getting some serious attention. Good Luck!!!

glenmthompson · #15 06-10-2006, 09:14 PM

Yep, I had 3 engine failures in Jim's plane I tested for him, all were at or above 75% power, Elec. fuel pump off, hot day, and with "egg frying hot tunnel temps". Actually had 1'st degree burns on my leg one day. ( I now NEVER turn off the elec. fuel pump in this plane... Jim and I are working on "our" solution and hopefully will have the plane flying by tomorrow, and I will fly (TD #1 permitting) tomorrow to see if we have at least a partial solution.
I have said MANY times guys, now listen, this is not guessing, rather a statement of fact.......THE HEAT IS COMONG OFF OF NOT JUST THE FIREWALL, BUT GREATLY FROM THE BOTTOM SKIN TOO...... Our side cowl "'gills" have helped and we are slowly removing the cabin heat fresh air in stages to see what happens.
IMHO, I would like to see the cabin heat reinstalled as heat, and something like a 1" "pitot" style tube placed in the cabin vent NACA duct and have 2 of these vents blowing into the tunnel full time. One can also then "T" off of one line for an avionics cooling source if so desired.
In my experienced humble opinion, the ONLY way to eliminate this built in stove top, is to insulate the firewall and belly inside the tunnel with a false floor similar to what is under your feet in the 10. The 10 floor is room temp with this false floor. Would be a relatively easy/light fix. I also would "stand off" the fuel pump, FF transducer and all fuel lines to further them from any radiated floor heat. TIFWIT.
Glen

brules · #16 06-11-2006, 06:57 PM

you are saying the inside tunnel of the aircraft gets hot enough to cause a first degree burn to the occupant? Didn"t Vans build the first RV-10 prototype and fly it for awhile before building ship number 2, and if so did they experience a hot tunnel? Was ship number 2 produced identical to ship number one or were refinements made to correct defficiences and does it have hot tunnel as well or was this corrected ? Might be good to find out !

glenmthompson · #17 06-11-2006, 09:52 PM

This hot tunnel thing is hard to believe until you see it fer yerself. My other observation that many have swept under the rug, is the total lack of elev. authority available to flare the 10 with a fwd CG and full flaps. IMHO, worse than at least, the 6 I test flew. hhhmmm, yet another thread???? (read, 727 drivers will have the perfect technique for landing this plane!)
Glen

brules · #18 06-12-2006, 09:49 AM

Inflight departure of the cabin doors is another item swept under the rug...seems the prototype rv-10 lost a door enroute to snf on its first debut there and was publicised as being just a latch problem..I'll say! And several others have lost doors as well..Guess we all are test pilots of sorts everytime we fly.

yooper · #19 06-13-2006, 08:19 AM

"Several others" have lost doors? I've heard of one . . .

TDT
40025

brules · #20 06-13-2006, 09:59 AM

if my source is correct and i have to believe that it is, the number of doors that have opened in flight and been damaged or left the aircraft entirely is at five incidents to date with one aircraft having this happen twice.