REFLECTOR: O'head plenum vs. panel vents

Sun Oct 29 19:09:13 CST 2006

MessageI have both and use them both - it gets hot around here in the summer - especially when flying low.  My overhead vent blows right on my head - and much body cooling occurs through the head.  So I would suggest installing the over head plenum.  I also have my gear not down horn installed there - right next to my ear.

Re the tangling of wires and hoses with the main gear mechanism - make sure to tie stuff down with Adel's and tie wraps.  I just inspected a 173 RG a few weeks ago that had a gear up - because wiring got tangled in the main gear over center mechanism - no excuse for that happening!!!!  No wires or hoses should be dangling anywhere in our planes.  Test them by pulling on them - if they CAN get into controls, gear mechanisms, etc, they WILL tangle and can cause serous problems.  And the fixes are so easy - Adel's and tie wraps are cheap - use plenty!!!!!

Ronnie Brown  
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Keith Hallsten 
  To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list' 
  Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 4:35 PM
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: O'head plenum vs. panel vents

  Chuck,

  I find your view on the overhead vents vs. the panel vents really interesting, as Rich Guerra has the opposite take on their relative value!  He advised that he hasn't opened his panel vents in years, since the overhead vents do such a fine job!!  I'm still putting in both, and I will see which I prefer when we get flying!

  Keith Hallsten

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  From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of Chuck Jensen
  Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 6:40 AM
  To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: O'head plenum drain line

  Dave,

  My overhead drain line works and is well clear of the main gear travel, but I had a leak in the lower area of that NACA so rain would leak into the cabin until it got about 1/4" deep in the NACA and would reach the outlet of the drain tube.  The first time it rained heavily and the plane set outside, I opened to the door to find about an inch of water in the bath tub.  Fortunately, plastic carpet dries well and fiberglass doesn't rust, but know this; a LOT of water flows through that NACA.  A lot of the roof area constitutes the 'NACA drainage.'  An inch of rain will probably put 2"-4" of rain water into that NACA, so if you you're letting it drain into the cabin, I hope you have an equally big outlet drain.

  I'm looking at putting a temporary aluminum plate over the overhead NACA and using silastic to put it in place.  The front vents do a great job of ventilating the cabin and I don't carry rear passengers that often and the cold it lets in during the winter (through the plastic eyeballs) is most unwelcome.  The only purpose the overhead plenum has served so far is being a good wire run to the overhead LED cabin light I put in.  All things being the same, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if the overhead NACA and plenum weren't even there!

  Chuck Jensen 

  -----Original Message-----
  From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of Terry Miles
  Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2006 8:46 PM
  To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: O'head plenum drain line

  Hi Dave,

  Thanks for the advice.  Sorry it happened to you.  I haven't run my drain line yet, leaving it for last "finish" kind of stuff in the aft cabin.  I have the XL-5 which is kind of a stationwagon set up back there, I have to fab some kind of back deck fit even with the back seat backs once they are in the folded position.  I consider myself duely warned on o'head drains.  

  Thanks

  Terry

    -----Original Message-----
    From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of davedent at comcast.net
    Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2006 1:22 PM
    To: reflector at tvbf.org
    Subject: REFLECTOR: Hangar talk

    By the way I got my broken leg XL back up into the air again yesterday.  It's been down since a bad trip home from OSH.   But all is well again.  Boy it felt good to get it up.  

    By the way, all those that haven't checked yet, make sure you check the main pivot bolts on your RG aircraft that they are grade eight bolts.  If you have a kit prier to 1999 they are grade five and should be changed.  The new plans in the site shows that they are grade eight.  So if you are working off the paper drawgs they are grade five.  

    Also if you have the (V) shape air duct in the top of your cabin with the water drain line coming out the back make sure it doesn't come close to your retract system during up and down travel.  Mine did and the linkage caught on it and hung up the right gear leg on landing and slammed it back up in the well .  I then became a passenger out into the tall grass, two down one up.   Just for a small peace of plastic has cost me a great deal of money and time.  It's the little things that can bite you.  I have eliminated mine completely now.  Let it drain into the bottom of the plane and drain out.  No big deal.  

    Don't wait to check, do it now before your next flight.  This should be a mandatory inspection on all RG Velocity aircraft.  Both items, grade eight bolt and water drain line. NOW

    Dave

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