Mailing List lml@lancaironline.net Message #68715
From: Chris Zavatston <chris_zavatson@yahoo.com>
Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [LML] [LNC2] Wing Tank Drains
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 14:12:58 -0500
To: <lml@lancaironline.net>
John,
I like that location for the drain.  One other variable to keep in mind is that those wings closed out with generous amounts of Hysol will have a ledge (inverted stalactite) that will initially keep water from making it to the truly lowest point in the wing.  With some agitation it will eventually get there.  
That weather is one good reason to keep the tanks full.

Chris Zavatson
N91CZ
360std
www.N91CZ.net

Sent from my spiffy iPhone

On Dec 24, 2013, at 4:45 AM, John Cooper <snopercod@comporium.net> wrote:

> When building my 235 wing tanks, I was concerned that the drain valve wasn't located at the lowest part of the tank, possibly allowing water to accumulate next to the BL-51(?) rib. Here is what the instruction manual showed:
>
> <Wing Tank Drain.jpg>
>
> I chose to mount the flush drain exactly in the lowest portion of the bottom wing skin where there was no foam core. I drilled a hole at the lowest point then used structural adhesive to glue the aluminum hard point onto the outside of the bottom wing skin so that the drain holes in the quick-drain were peeking just above the interior of the tank sealant. Afterwords, I fiberglassed over the hard point, which I had previously rounded and beveled. When it came time to finish the aircraft, I used micro to build up an aerodynamic "blister" to cover the hard point and quick drain. I probably lost a couple of Potential Knots of airspeed by sticking the drain out into the wind, but I won't have to worry so much about un-drainable water in the wing tanks.
>
> Speaking of water, we had a recent weather change here in NC from 40-ish to warm and humid and rainy. The entire aircraft was sweating in the hangar - not just the engine but the fiberglass airframe as well. I'd never seen anything like that and I have to assume that under such conditions, moisture could also build up inside the fuel tanks. It's something to think about. Here's what my "blister" looks like, and you can actually see the condensation in the photo:
>
> <Transformed_Lancair lower cowling - wing sumps 005.JPG>
>
>
>
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