Static ports/ tuft testing
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2020 1:56 pm
by builderflyer
Has anyone installed static ports on the sides of the fuselage behind the baggage area similar as to what you’ll see on an RV, for example? Or has anyone tuft tested the sides of the fuselage and has taken photographs of the testing? I’m looking to replace the plans-built static port tube located beneath the wing with a pair of the fuselage ports but unsure of the best location. What say you?
Art,Sonex taildragger #95,Jabiru 3300 #261
Re: Static ports/ tuft testing
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:24 pm
by racaldwell
Art,
This seems like it would be easy to test out the perspective location since Sonex uses pulled rivets. You could punch out the mandrel from a rivet in your location to use as a static port. Connect a tube to the rivet and tee it into the existing static line. Those plastic squeeze clamps can be used to shut off each static source in flight to see if there is a change in readings.
Rick Caldwell
Xenos 0057
Static ports/ tuft testing
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2020 6:01 am
by n307tw
Yes I have dual static ports on either side tee’d together going into my AHRS. Used pro-seal from Vans to hold them in place. This is a picture while I was wrapping before I sealed the rivets completely.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: Static ports/ tuft testing
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2020 9:53 am
by builderflyer
racaldwell wrote:Art,
This seems like it would be easy to test out the perspective location since Sonex uses pulled rivets. You could punch out the mandrel from a rivet in your location to use as a static port. Connect a tube to the rivet and tee it into the existing static line. Those plastic squeeze clamps can be used to shut off each static source in flight to see if there is a change in readings.
Rick Caldwell
Xenos 0057
Rick…your suggestion sounded good except that when I attempted to drive out a mandrel it wasn’t going anywhere. There would have to be a bucking bar with a hole in it on the inside of the fuselage to keep from denting the skin. I’ve since bought a pair of Van’s custom static ports which are very nice but they require a larger diameter hole through the skin so I’m reluctant to get started on that until I’m sure of a good location. I’ll get around to doing the tuft testing but first I need to buy a camera to record the event. Thanks for your suggestions.
Art,Sonex taildragger #95,Jabiru 3300 #261
Re: Static ports/ tuft testing
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2020 9:30 am
by sonex1374
Art,
I use a hollow rivet for the pressure source feeding my Angle of Attack probe (in the Dynon). Instead of pulling the rivet as usual I use a long rivet minus the mandrel and simply glue in the un-set rivet to the wing. I then apply a collar of safety wire on the inside of the skin to hold the rivet from backing out. This leaves a nice long and smooth rivet tail to attach the tubing onto.
You can do the same at multiple locations, and then when you find the best location fill the remaining holes with replacement rivets. No one will ever know the difference.
Jeff
Re: Static ports/ tuft testing
Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 11:24 pm
by Bryan Cotton
I am toying with the idea of static ports on the sides of the fuselage. Checking in to see if anyone has new success to report.
Re: Static ports/ tuft testing
Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 11:54 pm
by pilotyoung
On the RV-12 Van’s uses a pull rivet with the mandrel pounded out. They also sell static ports about the same size that have a nut on the inside of the skin that holds them in place with a barb for the plastic hose on the inside. They are not expensive and definitely a step up from using a rivet.
Re: Static ports/ tuft testing
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2021 12:18 am
by pappas
I use the Vans static port kit and placed the ports in the same spot on the Waiex B that they were positioned at on my RV-8. Look at any RV-8 to see where they go. That position also made the tubing runs to the ADHARS easy, as my ADHARS is mounted on the top rear of the rear baggage compartment fuselage former.
Re: Static ports/ tuft testing
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2021 2:44 am
by Spaceman
I asked Kerry if he could recommend any particular spot on the fuselage and this is what he said:
We don’t have any recommendation for external static ports. We take static pressure from an open tube inside the cockpit on some of our prototypes. Some people also take it from a tube open to the inside of a wing.
For what it’s worth, I put mine on each side of the forward fuselage, mostly because it was close to where my ADAHRS is. Also the forward fuselage side panels are parallel with the airflow, which I figured would be good. On an A model since the forward fuselage is tapered, maybe it would be better to put them on the aft fuselage so you don’t get a tiny bit of ram air effect into the static port. I dunno.
There are some pics of where I put mine here (not flying yet so I can’t confirm if it’s accurate or not):
https://paegelow.blogspot.com/2021/02/w … icaoa.html
Re: Static ports/ tuft testing
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2021 8:23 am
by GordonTurner
Nicely done Chris!!!
Re: Static ports/ tuft testing
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2021 9:40 pm
by Jim1342
Reinhard Metz wrote an article for Sport Aviation on locating a static port. It is quite detailed and requires several flights to locate the appropriate position. I tried to upload a copy of the article but I use LibreOffice Writer and apparently I cannot upload a file with an ODT extension.
Re: Static ports/ tuft testing
Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 1:57 pm
by lakespookie
you should be able to save as and use a standard office format or a plain text format jim.
Re: Static ports/ tuft testing
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 11:43 pm
by Jim1342
I have saved the file as a word document but it would not attach to my post. I don’t know if size matters, the document is 13 pages long and contains several pictures.
Static Port Location.doc
(2.1 MiB) Downloaded 265 times