I bought-a flying RV-9A that I've equipped for IFR. It has the baseline bent-tube pitot installation, which I'd like to replace with a heated pitot. (I've read the back and forth about the need for this change, just want to cut to the chase here assuming it'll be changed.)
Apparently others have done this swap by expanding the hole at the existing mounting location, but I'm put off by the difficulty of accessing that spot through the rib separating it from the outer access panel. Mounting to the outer panel itself isn't attractive due to interference with the tiedown and possibly the bellcrank, as others have noted, but how about using the middle panel, which I didn't find discussed?
I imagine one concern would be interference by flow from the prop tip. The pitot input would be about 5' behind the prop and about 6.2' from centerline, while the prop radius is 3', so it doesn't seem like an obvious call either way. Does anyone have practical experience as to whether this could work, or perhaps know of a study that might be applicable?
Apparently others have done this swap by expanding the hole at the existing mounting location, but I'm put off by the difficulty of accessing that spot through the rib separating it from the outer access panel. Mounting to the outer panel itself isn't attractive due to interference with the tiedown and possibly the bellcrank, as others have noted, but how about using the middle panel, which I didn't find discussed?
I imagine one concern would be interference by flow from the prop tip. The pitot input would be about 5' behind the prop and about 6.2' from centerline, while the prop radius is 3', so it doesn't seem like an obvious call either way. Does anyone have practical experience as to whether this could work, or perhaps know of a study that might be applicable?
