Great utility from these tanks
I installed the HWA tanks in my RV7A quick build wings right at construction time. I strongly recommend them if you are building the plane with travel in mind.
A couple of comments:
1. The HWA instructions were very, very clear and detailed. So thorough and in baby-step detail that I thought the installation would be more complicated that it actually was. The parts were all in fine finish, and the kit came together with very little (and routine) adjustments. No factory guidance calls were needed. So easy, even this caveman could do it easily.
2. The 8.5 to 9 gallons seemed disappointing at first, and I thought that the spacing in the lightening holes would permit a larger diameter tube portion of the tank, thus more capacity. It seemed that 12 or 14 gallons would be possible and more useful. But, the added capacity turns out to be just fine. My factory tanks hold 42 gallons and, with the HWA tanks, I flightplan with 50 usable. The most I've put in the plane on a single long leg was 40 gallons, so I don't think that an additional 4 or so gallons would effect my mission planning.
3. The pumps transfer fuel at over twice the cruise rate of consumption, but I usually transfer when 1/4 of the main tank remains if I will need that fuel for use or reserve, just in case it wont move. Better to find out early if the planned fuel is not available. While the HWA tanks are not gauged, the AFS 3400 accurately reports the fuel level increase over the 14 or 15 minutes needed to transfer the full amount, one side at a time. The AFS timer function alerts me to turn off the pump.
4. When building, I was contemplating more fuel. It was around that time that the FAA enforcement case on the builder that had made several fuel system modifications came out, so I decided to build in that capacity for the first inspection. I installed a removable 15 gallon tank for the baggage compartment with floor reinforcement, external fill, bottom drain, sender info to the AFS 3400, and venting. I used an aluminum tank from Summit Racing from which I removed the four original mounting brackets and had 5 new ones welded on. The outlet attaches by flexible hose to a fitting on a floor rib that carries the fuel via hard tubing through the center tunnel up to a three way (Left/Right/Aux) valve. Turns out that I have not had it in the plane since Phase I testing. But, its there if I want to use it without the requirement to go back into Phase I testing again.
Mike
N92MB RV7A (KFRR)