Move pitot tube to wing

[Joe Mckamey]

I know there have been some of you that have moved the pitot tube to the left wing. I’m thinking of doing this and wondering which one you guys have purchased and installed? I do have an IFR certified bird but we obviously don’t plan on flying in icing conditions so don’t need it heated.

The high school that built my plane did not build the spinner and align it properly and instead of redoing that work, it looks to be easier just to install one at the wing. I have the help of a friend who has built 3 planes so no problem there. I’m just looking for the correct equipment needed. TIA

 

[CTCole]

I put in a heated (regulated) Garmin GAP 26. Pitot mast has a backing plate inside the wing skin, attached to J-profile pieces spanning between the ribs. The controller is mounted on the inspection cover next to the stall switch. Pitot tube runs through a hole near the front of the rib, already present but enlarged slightly.

 

[scottmillhouse]

On a legacy RV-12 with Dynon. Just added the unheated Dynon tube and mast with AOA and plumbed with push to connect fittings at root. Located at approximately same location of other RVs on wing and made a skin reinforcement plate. A few others have documented here. Not heated because not IFR.

 

[dbhill916]

my $0.02

If you have AoA installed, you may want to put the pitot tube on the other wing so there's no chance of cross connections during wing reattachment.

 

[arazoza]

I put in a heated (regulated) Garmin GAP 26. Pitot mast has a backing plate inside the wing skin, attached to J-profile pieces spanning between the ribs. The controller is mounted on the inspection cover next to the stall switch. Pitot tube runs through a hole near the front of the rib, already present but enlarged slightly.

We were looking to do this on our RV after it gets inspected by the FAA. Would you said you did it over a weekend as far as hours dedicated? Since it is regulated, did you wire it directly into the G3X without the need for a switch in the cockpit? You can DM me if it is easier to explain the installation.

Thank you!

 

[CTCole]

We were looking to do this on our RV after it gets inspected by the FAA. Would you said you did it over a weekend as far as hours dedicated? Since it is regulated, did you wire it directly into the G3X without the need for a switch in the cockpit? You can DM me if it is easier to explain the installation.

Thank you!

I did this during original construction (E/AB) so the wing was open & easily accessible, and a DAR inspected the set-up and liked it. Even though I kept a daily log & time sheet, estimating time would be dicey, since a day's time would include steps specific for the pitot mast along with other work (e.g. wiring for lights, etching & priming wing pieces). With that caveat, yes, it was was about 2 days work for installing the pitot mast, its wiring in the wing, and the pneumatic lines in the wing (pitot & AOA-- they are different colors and have different connectors at the wing root, so I can't screw up when attaching the wing). There was some more time for the wiring in the fuselage, from the master solenoid to the connector at the wing root. That part of the circuit included a 20 Amp breaker/switch, along with a light that turns on when the switch is on. But I don't know that time estimate would be realistic after a wing is closed up.

Good luck! And you can DM if you have more questions.

 

[terhobey]

I put in a heated (regulated) Garmin GAP 26. Pitot mast has a backing plate inside the wing skin, attached to J-profile pieces spanning between the ribs. The controller is mounted on the inspection cover next to the stall switch. Pitot tube runs through a hole near the front of the rib, already present but enlarged slightly.

How did you do the aluminum tube to plastic tube connection?

 

[rockyfatcat]

I installed the garmin heated pitot AOA on an inspection plate on the left wing. A couple of doublers and enlarged a couple preexisting holes.

Easy to install. It’ll hang out of the way for access. It is easily removable if the wing needs to come off.

 

[CTCole]

How did you do the aluminum tube to plastic tube connection?

Push-on connectors -- in the photo, you'll see black connectors between the GAP-26 aluminum tubes and the red & blue pitot/AOA tubes. Photo was during a leak test of part of the system.

 

[terhobey]

Push-on connectors -- in the photo, you'll see black connectors between the GAP-26 aluminum tubes and the red & blue pitot/AOA tubes. Photo was during a leak test of part of the system.

Aw thank you! Very nice.

 

[CTCole]

How did you do the aluminum tube to plastic tube connection?

The connectors came from SteinAir:

 

[terhobey]

The connectors came from SteinAir:
View attachment 112433

Thank you so much!