Page 1 of 4

pitot and static location

PostPosted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 11:45 am
by dtwolcott
I recently purchased a partially completed Waiex. The previous builder decided to vary from the plans and put the pitot tube near the top of one of the ruddervators and also felt there would be no need for an external static port due to the many hole created in the structure form the rivets and etc. The skins are already on the wings so there is no easy way to put the static tube in the wing as shown on the plans. Has anyone put a static port somewhere on the fuselage that has worked?

Re: pitot and static location

PostPosted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 12:28 pm
by N111YX
Sounds like the original builder copied my system and philosophy exactly. Mine works great and I would not change it a bit...

Re: pitot and static location

PostPosted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 12:54 pm
by dtwolcott
N111YX wrote:Sounds like the original builder copied my system and philosophy exactly. Mine works great and I would not change it a bit...

Sure glad to here that. I am going to leave that static open and see how it works. thanks for the info

Re: pitot and static location

PostPosted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 9:20 pm
by N111YX
I drilled a 3/32" hole in the back of the static port plug that Dynon ships with their units. My altimeter is within 75 feet in flight (when flown in formation with an IFR certified airplane) and my airspeed is within 1-2 mph from what I can tell. Good enough for me...:)

Re: pitot and static location

PostPosted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 8:59 am
by Bryan Cotton
The Cessna 120/140 originally had a pitot and static probe like the Sonex. They did a poor job on their static design and there was a service letter to disconnect the static line in the cockpit. On the 140 I was restoring I left out all the static plumbing as a weight reduction opportunity. With that said, I still plan to build the stock pitot-static probe as shown on the plans.

Re: pitot and static location

PostPosted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 10:16 am
by fastj22
I have the standard pitot/static as described in the plans. I seem to be unable to work on the landing gear without bumping into it and bending it. To do it all over again, I would do what Kip did.

Re: pitot and static location

PostPosted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 12:48 pm
by Bryan Cotton
I used to own a Blanik L33 solo glider. The total energy probe (bent static probe to you power guys) plugged into a socket on the vertical. It was sealed by O-rings and held in by friction. Very nice setup.

Re: pitot and static location

PostPosted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 4:51 pm
by N111YX
Some pics by request...

Re: pitot and static location

PostPosted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 5:17 pm
by Bryan Cotton
Very nice! How does the plastic fitting mate to the phenolic?

Re: pitot and static location

PostPosted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 5:20 pm
by N111YX
It's tapped in (as in threaded), Bryan.

Bryan Cotton wrote:Very nice! How does the plastic fitting mate to the phenolic?