September 28, 2003
I was looking for something to do today. I had received a couple of static tube fittings so I finished the static tube system and then did an air test on the system.
I placed scotch tape over the static tube ports and tested back through the instruments to check for any leakage.
I tested from the end of this run, down where it goes to the altitude encoder. I lightly sucked on the hose (not recommended, I hear) until I got to the altitude and airspeed I wanted. Just don't peg out your vertical speed indicator. Van's recommends tightly rolling up a hose and then unrolling it until you obtain the pressure you want. If I would have had some hose I would have did it that way. Just be careful with your instruments here. They cost too much to ruin them by getting in a hurry.
A two-hour test started at 5,340 feet @ 155 MPH.
... and ended at 5,340 feet @ 155 MPH. I'm happy.
Next, just to test the airspeed, I locked it in at 158 MPH....
and two hours later... still 158 MPH. Cool! I'm kind of bouncing around these days, building what I have time for. If a project is too big for a few hours, then I try and wait until a day off. The job sure gets in the way of some prime airplane building. But... hey, it pays the bills.
