pitot and static location

[Bryan Cotton]

Thanks Kip!

[Bryan Cotton]

Plumbing progress. Discovered that if you spray WD40 on a paper towel, then wipe the tube with it, it slides like magic through the grommets. Here in the tail I made all the holes in one line.


Here the tube exits the tail and heads for an elbow fitting.


Out the bottom of the elbow and through a guide that keeps it free from the controls.


Then it runs forward:

[Concorde]

Looking good.

[WaiexB22]

So...8 years later, any issues with the pitot tube on the tail?

I am considering this because I like that it is up off the ground, but it seems like it could be an eye poker, especially for kids.

[Area 51%]

I too plagiarized Kip's installation on my first Waiex, and have installed the same setup on Number Two.

The tube's ability to blind a person of the correct height is not trivial. But to keep ocular fluid off the tube and bugs out of the pitot, the installation of a short tube with a rivet pressed in the end, put in place when not actively flying, will keep hospital visits to a minimum. .

[WaiexB22]

Thanks for the tips! I am going to do it, but I am going to put it on the pilot side. I am planning a tip back canopy and having it on my side would keep any passengers away and keep it on my side for easier preflight inspection.

[Bryan Cotton]

So...8 years later, any issues with the pitot tube on the tail?

I am considering this because I like that it is up off the ground, but it seems like it could be an eye poker, especially for kids.

I like my tail mounted pitot probe. I'm not sure I have great static pressure in the cabin though.

At fly-ins I pull the pitot out, so no eyes are poked or tubes bent.

[WaiexB22]

What diameter tubing are you running Bryan? Did you have issues that made you believe you don't have adequate static pressure?

[BobDz]

Just curious...

Bryan, why did you decide on this location instead of the more traditional under the wing location? Is there an advantage?

[Bryan Cotton]

Our altitude seems off from what ATC says we are at. That could be an issue with our MFD. I'm not sure. I think we used 1/4" OD nylaflow tubing from Spruce.

We chose the tail mounted pitot for 3 reasons:
1) I thought Kip's setup looked cool
2) I thought the pitot probe under the wing could be prone to damage
3) After we closed the wings, I found the mounts for the pitot static tubing still inside a plastic bag. We forgot to install them.