REFLECTOR:Old Standard Velocity Fuel Strakes.

[Richard J. Gentil]

Milt,

Nearest I can guess is he took a year (or was it two...) off to spend full time
building the plane. Travis spent a lot of time trying to mod and re-engineer the
plane. As you know, with building any plane, the more you mod, etc. the more time you
add. When he took the time off to devote to the project he was 6 months from
finishing. I guess after all the time went by and all the re-engineering mods, he was
still 6 months away from completing.

By then he needed to devote full time to his business and (pure speculation) he was
sick and tired of the project. He stuck the plane in self storage but could not get it
though the door. He was moving everything into self storage solo, so in frustration he
started cutting up the strake to get it in.

I think by then he had enough of the project and did not want to look at it again for
a long, long, long time.

Richard

miltonm at airmail.net wrote:

> >
>
> I was always under the impression that Travis was an intelligent and
> competent builder. The activity at the strakes makes me wonder.
>
> milt
>
> Here are the pix as promised:
> > http://www.velocityelite.com/highrez/strake1.jpg
> >
> > http://www.velocityelite.com/highrez/strake2.jpg
> >
> > http://www.velocityelite.com/highrez/strake3.jpg
> >
> > http://www.velocityelite.com/highrez/strake4.jpg
> >
> > http://www.velocityelite.com/highrez/strake5.jpg
> >
> > http://www.velocityelite.com/highrez/strake6.jpg
> >
> > http://www.velocityelite.com/highrez/strake7.jpg
> >
> > I think I am going to just do the repair and see if it is airtight. If
> > not, then I will
> > look at removing and starting over.
> >
> > Richard
> >
> > "Richard J. Gentil" wrote:
> >
> >> Joe, Al, and Pat,
> >>
> >> Thanx again for your interest and insight. Here is the reply I had from
> >> Brendan.
> >> (Duane gave me the same response.)
> >>
> >> "Richard,
> >> It is fixable. What is your background with working with fiberglass? It
> >> isn't a difficult fix but I wouldn't want to take a fuel tank fix like
> >> this
> >> on as my first project without having someone who has previous
> >> experience
> >> near by. A Cozy ,Long-EZ or Velocity builder would do. Take the piece of
> >> strake that was cut off. Cut the bottom part of the strake piece off
> >> along
> >> the leading edge. Glass the bottom section of the strake piece in place
> >> using a 2 bid layup on the outside and on the inside. Reinstall the
> >> baffle
> >> that was cut and glass in place. Recoat all the joints with EZ-poxy to
> >> seal
> >> like the original tank was sealed. Make a 2 to 3 bid flange all the way
> >> around the opening. This is so you have something for the top to seal
> >> to.
> >> Make a flange also down the leading edge where the top and bottom meet.
> >> Bond
> >> the top piece in place as the strake was originally bonded in with
> >> EZ-poxy
> >> and flox or milled fiber. Glass the outside with 2 bid as well. That's
> >> it.
> >> Again if you don't have previous glass experience and what I have
> >> written
> >> above sounds like Greek to you than you need to get some experienced
> >> help to
> >> tackle this repair.
> >>
> >> Brendan O'Riordan"
> >>
> >> I was wondering what the benefits of the old vs the new Strakes, since
> >> depending on
> >> what they were, would greatly influence whether I repair now and see
> >> what happens or
> >> just skip it and remove both Strakes and start over with the new Strake
> >> design.
> >>
> >> I will post the High Rez Pix to my website shortly and I will send out
> >> the link.
> >>
> >> Thanx again,
> >>
> >> Richard
> >>
> >> Joe wrote:
> >>
> >> > Welcome Richard,
> >> > I am just about to finish my first strake.  It will be a tick over 3
> >> weeks
> >> > when I am finished.  That was starting with new parts and not having
> >> to
> >> > remove the old structure.  Unless the structural or fuel containment
> >> > integrity is in question, I would think long and hard before deciding
> >> to
> >> > replace the strakes.  Cost may also be a consideration, I had to buy 2
> >> new
> >> > strake halves, 1 due to delamination and 1 for physical damage from
> >> the
> >> > previous owner - they cost $180 each.   Below is a cost estimate of
> >> building
> >> > new strakes, add shipping and/or sales tax and it will end up being
> >> between
> >> > $1500 and $2000. ( and a lot of hours)
> >> >     $ 720 - Strakes 4 x 180
> >> >     $ ??? - Wheel Wells 2 x ???
> >> >     $  55 - Foam
> >> >     $  80 - BID
> >> >     $  80 - Structural Epoxy
> >> >     $ 200 - Jeffco Epoxy
> >> >     $ 200 - Fuel caps, tubing, supplies, contingencies.
> >> >
> >> > Joe
> >> >
> >> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > Wrom: XUWLSZLKBRNVWWCUFPEGAUTFJMVRESKPNKMBIPBARHDMNNSKVF
> >> > To: <reflector at tvbf.org>
> >> > Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 6:27 PM
> >> > Subject: REFLECTOR:Old Standard Velocity Fuel Strakes.
> >> >
> >> > > Hey Gang,
> >> > >
> >> > > I am new to the Reflector. I recently purchased Travis Young's
> >> Project.
> >> > > He had a Standard Velocity RG that he converted to the Elite Doors.
> >> So
> >> > > what I have is the old style Fuel Strakes with the Elite Doors. (I
> >> do
> >> > > like that there is extra room for the door arm rest.)
> >> > >
> >> > > One thing Travis did was he cut badly into the left Fuel Strake with
> >> a
> >> > > hacksaw, in order to get the fuselage to fit into a self storage
> >> unit.
> >> > > (I do have pictures, but I did not know what the policy was for
> >> > > including attachments in Reflector Emails.) I have to decide whether
> >> to
> >> > > repair the damage or just put on a new Strake.
> >> > >
> >> > > My question is, does the old style Strakes vs the new style Strakes
> >> make
> >> > > any difference in fuel capacity and cruise speed? (Since if I was
> >> going
> >> > > to start over on the one side, I could also do the other side so
> >> they
> >> > > are the new style Strakes.)
> >> > >
> >> > > Thanx,
> >> > >
> >> > > Richard
> >> > >
> >> > > _______________________________________________
> >> > > To change your email address, visit
> >> > http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
> >> > >
> >> > > Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
> >> > > user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
> >> > > Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
> >> > > Check old archives:
> >> http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
> >> > >
> >> >
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > To change your email address, visit
> >> http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
> >> >
> >> > Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
> >> > user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
> >> > Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
> >> > Check old archives:
> >> http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> To change your email address, visit
> >> http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
> >>
> >> Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
> >> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
> >> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
> >> Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > To change your email address, visit
> > http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
> >
> > Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
> > user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
> > Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
> > Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> To change your email address, visit http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>
> Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
> Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html