I am sharing this as a solution that I have found, not as a recommendation. I have always been concerned about inadvertent ice accumulation on the RV's. It can happen no matter what time of the year due to the capabilities of these aircraft. I managed to get about a 1/4" of mixed icing over the Sierra's this past Fall while at 14K'. The 10 climbed fine to 16K' so I could get out of it. The main thing bothering me was the fuel vents, so I decided to try something. I asked at Van's if we really needed the ram air into the tanks, and since the answer was no, I decided to put one of the cable fairlead covers like we use where the rudder cables exit the fuselage ahead of the fuel tank vent. The vent line does not protrude below the depth of the cover. I have made many flights now, at all pwer settings and altitudes, and I have not noticed any difference in fuel flows or pressures. There are no fuel stains by the vent, so it is not syphoning fuel out in flight. At this time I elected to cover only one, and will feed from that tank if I ever should encounter icing again.
Maybe others have tried this already. I know there was a thread a while back and I didn't remember if we had found a solution.
Just for the record, I am NOT equipping my RV-10 for flight into known icing. I just want time to get out of the icing it my way (with a running engine).
Vic
Maybe others have tried this already. I know there was a thread a while back and I didn't remember if we had found a solution.
Just for the record, I am NOT equipping my RV-10 for flight into known icing. I just want time to get out of the icing it my way (with a running engine).
Vic