Merry Christmas to all. I don't know if anyone is paying attention to this forum today but I am struggling with where to mount the pitot mast on my RV-7A wing and can use some advice. I am using a SafeAir1 mast with the Dynon heated pitot with AOA. There are three options:
1) Just outboard of the 10th rib. This is just a couple of inches beyond the third inspection access cover but only about 8 inches outboard of the tiedown ring. I have heard that in this location tiedown chains might hit the pitot tube. Not a good thing.
2) Just inboard of the 9th rib. This puts the pitot about 6 inches inboard of the tiedown ring so it should be less likely to contact tiedown chains but it is a little close to the aileron bellcrank pushrod and routing of the plumping (pitot, AOA, and heater in this case) will be more difficult. On the other hand this is very close to the pitot location shown in the Vans plans for the standard bent tube pitot.
3) Just inboard of the 11th rib. This is similar to Option 1 but moved out about 6 more inches which puts it about 17 inches outboard of the "standard" location and far enough away from the tiedown ring that it shouldn't interfere with the chains.
I know this pitot and mast have been used by many. Option 1 is my initial first choice but has anyone that installed it there actually had problems with the tiedown chains? I don't know if this is a serious issue or not. How about those that moved it inboard of the 9th rib? Any issues with routing around the pushrod?
RV-7A
Empennage done
Wings in-work
www.johnsrv7a.wordpress.com
1) Just outboard of the 10th rib. This is just a couple of inches beyond the third inspection access cover but only about 8 inches outboard of the tiedown ring. I have heard that in this location tiedown chains might hit the pitot tube. Not a good thing.
2) Just inboard of the 9th rib. This puts the pitot about 6 inches inboard of the tiedown ring so it should be less likely to contact tiedown chains but it is a little close to the aileron bellcrank pushrod and routing of the plumping (pitot, AOA, and heater in this case) will be more difficult. On the other hand this is very close to the pitot location shown in the Vans plans for the standard bent tube pitot.
3) Just inboard of the 11th rib. This is similar to Option 1 but moved out about 6 more inches which puts it about 17 inches outboard of the "standard" location and far enough away from the tiedown ring that it shouldn't interfere with the chains.
I know this pitot and mast have been used by many. Option 1 is my initial first choice but has anyone that installed it there actually had problems with the tiedown chains? I don't know if this is a serious issue or not. How about those that moved it inboard of the 9th rib? Any issues with routing around the pushrod?
RV-7A
Empennage done
Wings in-work
www.johnsrv7a.wordpress.com