RansMail #021 May 22nd 2004

 

a)   Thanks, I got three replies & two recommendations on how to clean the oil from the fabric, so I bought a 'K & N' equivalent cleaning fluid from my regular car parts place & will be prepared to try the alternative of baby soap method during my next visit.

 

b)   The new rubber bung inserts Vince brought me back from the U.S. fit the fuel caps nicely and at last the cam device has sufficient purchase to prevent the maintank cap falling out onto its safety wire & seals off the tank correctly.

 

c)    I had the pleasure of a road visit to Graham near Dover/Deal yesterday and took a load of photo's of top fuel tank fitting, both off Ed's fuselage in the hangar and his own a/c. Ed's work on the S4 looks really crisp and Graham's S5 is exceptionally smart and fresh with a first class instrument panel plus a fuel pressure gauge. Graham has quite a lot of experience and has also recently built an S6, but said his S5 handles better. Ed has only to refinish one wing, dealing with replacing a concealed damaged spar and the a/c will be ready to fly again.

Checking Fan Belt tension before flight (The little triangular tab is cut from the plastic fan cover to allow your finger to reach the belt).

 

I also learnt a few tips on rigging etc., which I'll be looking at, including:-

 

(i)    retensioning - when you can find the will to open up the wing - the flap lift rubber strops, to cure vibration in flight;

(ii)   as well as having the tailplane stay wires reasonably tight, for the same reasons.

(iii)  I understand that the standard Rotax 447 does have an auxiliary generator coil but a fancy volts/power regulator is essential to stop over volt surges blowing up the radio etc. Ridgeway Air's version, NOT the Rotax one.

 

d)   A flying friend, Dave Wood, kindly drove over to show me another example of a top tank, which will soon be refitted to Dave Cassidy's S4 after the conversion, with PFA approval, to S5 nose wheel set up. Dave flies Graham's S5 and asked to be placed on our mail list, so 'HELLO' to our first S4/5 Friend.

 

e)  I have now seen two types of top fuel tanks: mine has a totally flat base and a sharper rear end and I estimate holds approx. 12 litres plus some air space - this looks like the one Graham has too.

Ed's and Dave's each have a vertical edge at the back end and are deeper underneath, hanging down about one inch each side of the tube mounting; it's said they hold 18 litres safely.

Ed's S4 Overhead fuel tank forward mount 

 

Mike.