Category: RV-7 Builders Log

Anything related to the construction of our RV-7 airplane

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Fuselage Fuel System

May 12, 2016

FUEL LINES TO SELECTOR VALVE

Our first task upon returning to Michigan from the instrument panel building winter in Florida was to fabricate a support plate and install the Andair fuel valve. This was followed by bending and routing the 3/8″ OD soft aluminum fuel lines in from the wing roots to the valve.

INSTALLATION STARTS AT THE VALVE

A  coiled spring type tubing bender was found to be much more useful than a lever type bender.  Rubber grommets protect the lines where they pass through the fuselage skin.  The free floating  grommets will be placed in the spar forward cover plates.

NOTE THE TWO GROMMETS

Fuel vent lines were added for each tank. They enter the fuselage sides, travel up to the top longerons, forward to the firewall and down through the fuselage floor. Cut at a forward facing 45deg. angle the vents tubes apply a small positive pressure to the tanks. A cover screen prevents entry of large bugs. The left vent tube fuselage floor exit can be seen below.

LEFT RUDDER PEDALS WITH BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS
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RV-7 IFR Panel Build Photos – 2015/16

11/14/15

 

 

 

On our home computer I set up X-Panel planing software and started designing the instrument and switch layout.

The Garmin G3X system was selected for several reasons:

  1. I had three Garmin instruments in my Globe Swift: a G400W navigator, a G695 moving map and a SL40 communications radio.  The Garmin menu system was familiar.
  2. At two airshows I had the opportunity to compare Garmin equipment with Dynon and Grand Rapids.  I thought Garmin had better  screen colors and pixilation.  Also at the time, Garmin had the only system with full IFR capability not requiring components from other vendors.
  3. There appeared to be little cost difference between vendors when pricing similar IFR systems.

11/15/15

Started ordering switches and other electronic components.  I have found the DigiKey online catalog the easiest to navigate when hunting for parts by function and feature, rather than part number.  I also started downloading and printing over 1100 pages of Garmin installation and operations manuals. Continue reading “RV-7 IFR Panel Build Photos – 2015/16”

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A Summer of Progress – 2015

June 2015

This is the picture story of the summer’s work on our RV-7.  Something was done every day, and pictures were taken only to supplement the daily handwritten log.  This is not an instruction manual as there were many, many steps in between those illustrated here.

As noted in our status report, the RV-7 Quickbuild Wings and Fuselage arrived in Michigan on June 4th.  They were delivered to Dalton Airport (3DA) in Flushing, trailered to our shop, and the wings set into cradles with the help of friends from EAA Chapter 77.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA      

Dolly and I had fun uncrating and unpacking.

It was exciting to be introduced to our next airplane.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Into the shop it goes. Continue reading “A Summer of Progress – 2015”