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Questions about Garmin Gap26 Pitot/AOA probe

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danlh

Well Known Member
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I am working on the pitot tube installation and some questions came up:
Does mounting it behind the spar in the bay outboard of the aileron bellcrank cause any problems with tie down ropes.
Is this the preferred location.
It seems like many are using the Dynon installation kit instead of the Garmin kit. Why is that?
Any tips for the installation would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Dan
 
Behind the spar is where most of the mast kits are designed for.
Spanwise, inboard of the tie down will ensure no problems with tie down ropes, outboard of the tie down may occasionally get in the way. Depends how often you use the downs.
Garmin install kit is expensive, I used one from ACS that originated from Bob Avery.
Flare the ends of the pipes and use AN elbows
 
My avionics guy had me use the Dynon mount with the Garmin AOA/pitot. The Garmin AOA easily slips into the Dynon mount.

The Dynon mount is simpler and easily mounted. I mounted mine on an outboard access panel. This also makes it easy if you need to remove the wing, or inspect everything on your condition inspection.


IMG_7252.jpegIMG_7251.jpeg
 
I like the method of installing right at the spar. I feel it is more rigid and stronger there than a thin access panel.
 
Fundamentally, any AN5812-pattern pitot tube mount should work fine for a GAP 26. The OEM part is nice, but I agree it's overkill for our airplanes. I have mine on a Gretz mount.
 
Thanks all for the replies. I already have the Garmin install kit so I guess I will use that. I’m leaning on mounting it in the bay inboard of the aileron bellcrank, which gets it inside of the tie down. I am going to temporarily install the aileron control linkage first to see what makes sense.
 
danlh said:
Thanks all for the replies. I already have the Garmin install kit so I guess I will use that. I’m leaning on mounting it in the bay inboard of the aileron bellcrank, which gets it inside of the tie down. I am going to temporarily install the aileron control linkage first to see what makes sense.
Click to expand...
I used the Garmin mount with the GAP26 on my 9A and I mounted it on the outboard inspection panel. Yes, it is close to the tiedown but it does not interfere. I added a large doubler for additional rigidity.
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danlh said:
Is this the inspection panel below the aileron bellcrank?
Click to expand...
Yes. I used red and blue 1/4" plastic tubes, from Stein, to connect the GAP26 to the GSU25. The plastic tubes connect to the GAP26 with sharkbite push-on unions.
The unions are 3/16 to 1/4" adapters. I bent the GAP26 tubes 90 deg aft then 45 deg outboard/aft toward the next wing rib. I ran the tubes thru that wing rib lightening hole into the next outboard bay then forward to behind the spar then thru rest of the wing ribs then inboard into the fuselage. That aft-outboard-forward routing provides enough slack to drop the entire pitot assembly to inspect and lube the aileron bellcrank during condition inspection.
NOTE - It was quite the chore drilling a second hole in every rib for the static pressure line and snap bushings in an already built wing.
 
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