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josandt(at)verizon.net
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 Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 7:26 pm Post subject: alcoholic gas tanks-structural? |
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Re: Steve "Airedale" Winder's plastic replacement tanks and the alcoholic fuel issue ... From the dialogue that followed this strand, it appears that perhaps the best strategy regarding replacement of wing tanks is to mount the plastic tanks inside the fiberglass tanks (ensuring that IF there is a structural component to the tanks, it's covered). And paint the wings white to keep the temperature low, although I'm not sure that's a real issue. If anyone can find a weak point in this strategy, I'd like to hear it.
..Steve, I'll be wanting tanks for that second wing...
| Quote: | The diagrams tend to indicate a structural component to the
tank, essentially replacing the drag-anti-drag tubes in that area.
It is true that the tanks could possibly act as drag braces in >their bays. It is also true that some amount of drag bracing is >required, though it is not clear how much. You really are >in "experimental land". I hope that if you can't prove the new >tanks are at least as strong as the old that you'll use some kind >of parachute for the initial envelope expansion.
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John Sandt / 7 Tri-gear / Corvair / BRS / Ridgecrest, CA
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lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 8:56 pm Post subject: alcoholic gas tanks-structural? |
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John,
I feel a little reluctant to join in this discussion. Consider this my
opinion only. And I only respond because of some of the modifications I
made during my build due to the influence of some of the dicscusions on the
builders list then, that I later regretted. I have come to have a pretty
profound respect for the designers of our airplanes.
With over 4000 reported Kitfoxes flying and the Kreem issues originating
with two or three instances of peeling on what by consensus seems to be
poorly prepared tank surfaces before the Kreem application, and not a single
report to date of problems with the 7% to 10% ethanol in current fuels -
fuel lines excepted - (that I am aware of), I wonder, why spend the $$ and
worry about wing engineering.
I have been soaking several Kreem coated balsa wood floats in California
formulated auto gas (7%, by my tests) and denatured alcohol - 93% ethanol by
the label and have seen no evidence at all that the Kreem is being
attacked - start date 10/01/2006 (only 7-1/2 months and counting, but still
significant - the floats have been taken periodically up to a virtual 14,000
ft. in a bell jar - weekly at first, but occasionally since). Vinyl Ester
resin - supposedly what the underground tanks are made of - affected, yes,
but Kreem no. The Kreem coating remains hard (no softening) it has it's
original sheen and has not discolored. In my opinion Kreem is good stuff if
applied correctly. For info, the purpose of the tests is to determine the
long term integrity of the Kreem coating, as a sinking float is not a float
at all. The Kreem has to be 100% intact in practice, as when an airplane
climbs to altitude the float will degass in the reduced air pressure if
there is any breach in the coating and then when back on the ground the
higher pressure there will force fuel into the float through the breach,
eventually saturating the float and destroying its buoyancy.
I do understand the build process and the relative ease of making
adjustments before rather than after airplane completion.
Without a doubt, however you decide to do it, it will be valuable to the
Kitfox community, because it will provide a real life application of this
idea and we will all learn from it.
Lowell Fitt P.S. The Cameron Park Fly-in is on June 9th.
It would be nice to have you here.
http://cameronparkkitfox.com
Cameron Park, CA
Model IV-1200 R-912 UL Warp
1998 850 hrs.
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