|
Todd and group,
In reference to the Von Alexander tragedy and airborne inflight fire....... I do not
know how others of the group feel about parachutes but many years ago (when I
was 45 years old) I trained in skydiving because as an aircraft homebuilder I wanted
to be less afraid of using my parachute in the event (no matter how remote) of an
inflight emergency (structural or fire) then staying with an aircraft when there was no
chance of my survival............Be advised skydiving turned out to fun and turned into
another hobby but my main objective was obtained.........I would have no hesitation
to the use of my parachute if it becomes necessary !!.........Of course anything one
can do to prevent or slow down a fire from getting to the cockpit is prudent....FWIW
--
Kelly Troyer
"Dyke Delta"_13B ROTARY Engine
"RWS"_RD1C/EC2/EM2
"Mistral"_Backplate/Oil Manifold
-------------- Original message from Todd Bartrim <bartrim@gmail.com>: --------------
Hi Kelly;
I've finished the first phase of getting the darned thing in there. Second phase will be actually running it to test it. I haven't yet bought a voltage regulator or even given any thought as to tying it into the electrical system, though I don't expect any problems here. I just finished writing a full report on how to do this installation, just need to proof read it and export it into a PDF or something small enough to post. It's currently in .odt and 24Mb. Maybe I'll see if I can just put it on the Rotary Wiki. You can probably expect it late tonight (pacific time).
Second phase will likely be late summer or early fall, as I'm about to completely remove the entire FWF in order to install a ceramic blanket heat shield in one piece. Some of you may remember the Von Alexander story about an RV8 pilot that jumped to his death in order to avoid flames in the cockpit. Well my boy wants to go flying real bad, but that's something I always think about. So while it's not something I plan to happen, It's one more base I'd like to cover as best I can. I wish I'd done something like this while building initially, but there wasn't much available back then.
A builder by the name of Vince Frazier has started FlyBoy accessories and offers a firewall insulation kit that is ideal and affordable. Ironically, Vince bought his initial tool set from Von Alexander's widow. So I've ordered this kit http://www.flyboyaccessories.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=204
I will completely strip the firewall in order to install it in one piece with as few penetrations as possible.
While it's off I plan to change some things on my cooling system, based on some of the recent successes I've seen here on the list in the last few years since I first completed my plane (it's never really completed). But even these projects will be delayed by other non-aircraft projects that I have to get done.
Todd
C-FSTB
RV9 13B
On Thu, 2009-07-02 at 17:52 +0000, Kelly Troyer wrote:
Todd,
Just How is Your PM Alternator Project going ??.......We are all hopeful that it will lessen a possible alternator fail point by virtue of being direct drive and eliminating the drive belt......
--
Kelly Troyer
"Dyke Delta"_13B ROTARY Engine
"RWS"_RD1C/EC2/EM2
"Mistral"_Backplate/Oil Manifold
|