Today's Message Index:
----------------------
1. 12:28 AM - Re: Safety? Fiberglass gas tanks & Static Electricity (Pilots4ETW@wmconnect.com)
2. 05:26 AM - Re: I've finally started building something that will fly (no... (Hopperdhh@aol.com)
3. 06:26 AM - Re: Safety? Fiberglass gas tanks & Static Electricity (Hopperdhh@aol.com)
4. 12:55 PM - Re: Installing elevator control horns (walt evans)
5. 01:04 PM - Re: I've finally started building something that will (walt evans)
6. 06:11 PM - Brodhead Dates (Ron Franck)
7. 06:51 PM - Re: Brodhead Dates (Cinda Gadd)
Message 1
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| Subject: | Re: Safety? Fiberglass gas tanks & Static Electricity |
The reason I posted this is from witnessing the aftermath of an actual fire.
When I was a news reporter for a TV station in El Paso, I saw a guy burned and
disfigured on one of the thousands of hard-news stories I covered in my
career. El Paso is a dry desert climate, great place for making static electricity
on a cool day. The fellow was a go-carter and he hauled gas in a plastic can
in the back of his pickup. To compound matters, his truck bed was lined in
Astro Turf. The fire investigator theorized that when the victim slid his plastic
gas can into and out of the pickup bed, it helped induce a static buildup in
the plastic gas can. (Kind of like when you rub a small rubber balloon on your
shirt, the resultant static makes it stick to you.) The go-cart was hauled on
a small trailer. He unloaded it, slid the plastic gas can on the Astro Turf
and during the fueling stage, KABOOM. Luckily, nobody else was hurt and he was
fueling in a sandy area where nothing else caught on fire, but the gocarter got
a new physical identity! No hair and 3rd degree burns to his hands, arms and
face.
I'm buying 15 feet of 1/8th inch copper grounding wire to install in both of
my fiberglass tanks, then running down to the bottom of the fuselage to the
juncture of the landing gear. Maybe this way, I can ground the airplane in a way
similar to how FBOs fuel spam cans.
One other lesson from my days as a news reporter. I saw a man who was killed
when shrapnel tore him to shreds. He was blown to bits from the explosion of
an air compressor tank. I suspect the tank had built up rust and was
compromised because someone was failing not to do a daily water drain of the tank
as
mandated by OSHA in work setting. I religiously drain the air tank on my air
compressors after using them, after seeing a dead man who looked like
hamburger--killed by an exploding air tank.
Sterling Brooks
Message 2
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| Subject: | Re: I've finally started building something that will |
fly (no...
Ben,
I went to the website but couldn't find pictures of your project. Do you
have any?
Dan Hopper
Walton, IN
do not archive
In a message dated 3/4/05 12:56:06 A.M. US Eastern Standard Time,
bcharvet@bellsouth.net writes:
Hi all,
I've been lurking in the background on this list for a few months now while
studying my plans, practicing my woodworking skills and getting my shop
ready. Its a long story but I built an entire fuselage mock-up with some lumber
yard douglas fir that I bought before I really knew what the recommendations
were as far as grain slope, etc. It didn't take all that long and I learned a
lot of things I'll do differently when I get the right materials.
I just started last weekend making wing ribs with wood (douglas fir) that
meets my expectations and I'm building a rib nearly every day. After cutting
all the parts out in advance I can now glue and nail one up in about an hour.
I've posted my progress so far at mykitplanes at the following link. I've
posted a few pictures there as well.
I've learned a lot just lurking in the background and from searching the
archives. There are three other Piets under construction within 40 miles of me
so I have lots of local sources of information too.
Here is my link
_http://www.mykitplane.com/Planes/buildLogReport.cfm?PlaneID=481&FName=Ben&LNa
me=Charvet&PlaneName=Air%20Camper_
(http://www.mykitplane.com/Planes/buildLogReport.cfm?PlaneID=481&FName=Ben&LName=Charvet&PlaneName=Air%20Camper)
Ben
Message 3
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| Subject: | Re: Safety? Fiberglass gas tanks & Static Electricity |
Hi listers,
This doesn't apply to just fiberglass tanks, but to any use of plastic
around gasoline.
I'm one of those guys who uses plastic gas cans. I use them to fill my lawn
mowers in the summertime. I used them to refuel my C-150 with a plastic
funnel. I still would, except that I have sold it.
Now I happen to be an electrical engineer, also. I have worked a lot with
MOS devices which are very static sensitive. We had to work at a grounded
workbench with a wrist strap, etc. Working in a static sensitive environment
has instilled in me some ways to reduce the risks associated with static
electricity.
Static electricity takes some time to drain away because plastic is a very
poor conductor of electricity. So move slowly. Set your can of fuel on a
ladder, etc., near where you are going to pour it from, and wait a while. While
you are waiting, blow your breath across the can, funnel, and tank to drain
away the static electricity. The moist air makes the surface of the plastic
more conductive. When you are ready to refuel, use your body to bring the
fuel can to the same voltage as the plane before opening either fuel cap. That
is, touch both at the same time. If you have a metal ground system (like
the engine or landing gear), touch it too. If there is a spark, it should jump
during this time. After the spark jumps (or doesn't jump) the likelihood of
igniting a fire is very low. Now, without making any unnecessary movements,
open the caps and pour the gas.
For what its worth: gasoline is a non-conductor, and as far as I know
doesn't build up a static charge itself. The charge will be on the surface of
the
plastic pieces. I don't think its the gas you're trying to discharge, its
the tank, can and funnel. But, I'm not positive about this, so do what the
glass plane people have found that works -- which I've read in earlier posts.
The post about fabric anti-static spray was especially good. (Sorry, I don't
remember who that was.)
Dry climates are of course the worst. There have been numerous refueling
fires at gas stations. These are usually due to people sliding across the seat
of their car in cold dry weather which builds up a static charge on their
clothing. Its a good idea to touch the car body when you get out, and again
when you have the metal of the fuel nozzle in the other hand. This discharges
everything to ground potential. If the person stays statically charged, then
discharges at just the wrong time, the gas fumes can ignite. A Google
search will find some of these cases.
OK, now you know some ways to reduce the risk. Its pretty hard to be
perfectly safe around something with as much energy content as gasoline. All
in
all, its a pretty safe way to store energy. Look at the millions of cars on
the road, and every one of them has a bomb on board!
Regards,
Dan Hopper
Walton, IN
Message 4
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| Subject: | Re: Installing elevator control horns |
John,
I'm built from the plan that is dated 3-23-33. and that drawing shows them on
an angle. It's kind of an optical illusion tho. lay a ruler thru the centerline
of the horn on the drawing and it will stand out.
walt evans
NX140DL
----- Original Message -----
From: John and Phyllis Smoyer
To: pietenpol-list@matronics.com
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 5:53 PM
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Installing elevator control horns
The horns I'm talking about mount on the main and center beams of the elevators.
The plans seem to show the horn aligned parallel to the airplane center line.
However, because the horns are mounted some distance outboard of the airplane
center line, the control cables will connect to the horn at an angle of something
like (I'm guessing) 20 degrees or so. That means that the control force
for the elevator will exert a side load/bending moment on the horn, which will
be transferred into the bolts that hold the horn onto the elevator beams.
Is this a problem? Should I install the control horns at an angle, so that there
would be no side load? How have other builders installed this horn?
For sure, aligning the horns to eliminate the side load would turn them into
the airstream and create more drag than if the horn were aligned straight.
Thanks for your help.
John Smoyer
Message 5
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fly (no more mock-ups for me).
| Subject: | Re: I've finally started building something that will |
fly (no more mock-ups for me).
<000a01c5204d$c7aab030$0100a8c0@Desktop>
<009a01c52066$7ad10980$6501a8c0@benslaptop>
Ben,
Nice site and looks like a good start to a great project.
Good luck! You're gonna love it.
walt evans
NX140DL
----- Original Message -----
From: Ben Charvet
To: pietenpol-list@matronics.com
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 10:01 PM
Subject: Pietenpol-List: I've finally started building something that will fly
(no more mock-ups for me).
Hi all,
I've been lurking in the background on this list for a few months now while studying
my plans, practicing my woodworking skills and getting my shop ready.
Its a long story but I built an entire fuselage mock-up with some lumber yard
douglas fir that I bought before I really knew what the recommendations were
as far as grain slope, etc. It didn't take all that long and I learned a lot
of things I'll do differently when I get the right materials.
I just started last weekend making wing ribs with wood (douglas fir) that meets
my expectations and I'm building a rib nearly every day. After cutting all
the parts out in advance I can now glue and nail one up in about an hour. I've
posted my progress so far at mykitplanes at the following link. I've posted
a few pictures there as well.
I've learned a lot just lurking in the background and from searching the archives.
There are three other Piets under construction within 40 miles of me so
I have lots of local sources of information too.
Here is my link
http://www.mykitplane.com/Planes/buildLogReport.cfm?PlaneID481&FNameBen&LNameCharvet&PlaneNameAir%20Camper
Ben
Message 6
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--> Pietenpol-List message posted by: Ron Franck <franck@geneseo.net>
With Oshkosh opening on a Monday, July 25, will the Piet Gathering at
Brodhead be on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of July?
And what are the dates for the Fall Fly-In?
Thanks, RF
Message 7
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s=test1; d=earthlink.net;
b=oqbQNUaAnUY7SfXxxWFqDHNvpaf8jNZHnxvYAFhdJRU+Wend9+/42jFh3kuiul1D;
--> Pietenpol-List message posted by: "Cinda Gadd" <csfog@earthlink.net>
Yep, July 22 and 23 will be the best days to be there.
Skip, still working on the hangar in WV
> With Oshkosh opening on a Monday, July 25, will the Piet Gathering at
> Brodhead be on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of July?
> And what are the dates for the Fall Fly-In?
> Thanks, RF
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