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Mothership News: Pre-Built Fuel Tanks Now Available for the RV-14/14A and RV-10

Nice, any one know are QB 10 and 14 wings tanks tested and inspected in-house to the same spec ?
 
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Woohoo! Nice add!
Does anyone have a 51% checklist for the 10? I'd like to keep track of tasks for my build.
 
I would have had vans do the tanks on my otherwise slow build. That said, it was… “fun…” building my own tanks. If they leak, I might consider this option rather than tear them open.
 
RNB said:
Woohoo! Nice add!
Does anyone have a 51% checklist for the 10? I'd like to keep track of tasks for my build.
Click to expand...
Check out:

Amateur-Built Fabrication and Assembly Checklist 2009. It can be found in FAA advisory circular, AC 20-27G.

Vans has completed this for some of their newer designs.
 
Don't read too much into anyone's claim of "tested and inspected". In general, everyone's tanks leave the shop leak-free. Leaks and blisters begin after the tank has been subjected to flight loads and heat.

Prebuilt tanks just save some labor, and even then only if they do it right. My QB tanks, circa 2006, were awful both inside and out.
 
Gee, I can build tanks for much less than $4k
I have had two sets of QB tanks and the blister on them were awful, my own built fuel tank has had zero blisters.
 
I have never heard anyone on here say they were pleased with Vans QB tanks.
However, this is the new “Vans”. Perhaps they can put together a short video or something showing their process and build some confidence.
Following suit, the “new” Vans isn’t going to take your parts back if you already have them. I suspect it just isn’t good business to do so, for them or us. So, there will be some tank kits for sale soon. Might be a chance to pick up some cheap parts and build them yourself. Will Vans allow you to delete tanks from a wing order?
Back in the day, these prices would have sent folks screaming to the hills. However, today, you better have, what $150-200k? to put an airplane together or you might end up short. So, what’s another few grand. I would do it if I had some kind of guarantee they would not have, or per, DanH, develop, issues. Couldn’t imagine getting my pride and joy flying and then need to pull tanks for blisters or leaks after all that. I’d cry. If I built them and they leaked (I did and they haven’t), I would kick myself. If Van built them, I would just be pissed!
 
If Van's is using the same company that does their quick build kits, I would stay away from them. When I opened up my -9A quick build tanks to modify them for extended range tanks, the quality of the sealant work was awful. They were so stingy with the sealant that I was thankful I decided to do this. No doubt in my mind that they would have developed leaks in time had I not done so.
 
PSA For those considering this route, a while back I put sky design ER tanks on my -10 and had left over tanks that had been flown and settled in. At the time there were a few folks trying to sell and prices were falling. I haven't seen any in a while but I suspect there are a few already flown tanks hiding in hangers and gathering dust owned by folks who don't want to figure out how to ship them and can't bring themselves to dispose of a perfectly good airplane part.

A WTB may find a tank near you.

Derek
 
Please note "everyone" means everyone, quick build or customer built, and in this case, tanks which I suspect will be assembled by an individual in the USA. Leaks and blisters are not and never have been exclusive to QB tanks.

Might be more confidence in the new service if the assembler was identified, but even so, the caveat...tanks rarely leave anyone's shop with a leak. It's an in-service issue, so shop-tested is not a guarantee.

I'm just sayin' "Don't develop an unrealistic expectation because you wrote a check."
 
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Well Scott did the fuel tank building video on YouTube, I wonder if he’s got a new side line!
 
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