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Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 14:12:58 -0500
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Subject: Re: [LML] [LNC2] Wing Tank Drains
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From: Chris Zavatston <chris_zavatson@yahoo.com>
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John,
I like that location for the drain.  One other variable to keep in mind is t=
hat those wings closed out with generous amounts of Hysol will have a ledge (=
inverted stalactite) that will initially keep water from making it to the tr=
uly lowest point in the wing.  With some agitation it will eventually get th=
ere. =20
That weather is one good reason to keep the tanks full.

Chris Zavatson
N91CZ
360std
www.N91CZ.net

Sent from my spiffy iPhone

On Dec 24, 2013, at 4:45 AM, John Cooper <snopercod@comporium.net> wrote:

> When building my 235 wing tanks, I was concerned that the drain valve wasn=
't located at the lowest part of the tank, possibly allowing water to accumu=
late next to the BL-51(?) rib. Here is what the instruction manual showed:
>=20
> <Wing Tank Drain.jpg>
>=20
> I chose to mount the flush drain exactly in the lowest portion of the bott=
om wing skin where there was no foam core. I drilled a hole at the lowest po=
int then used structural adhesive to glue the aluminum hard point onto the o=
utside of the bottom wing skin so that the drain holes in the quick-drain we=
re peeking just above the interior of the tank sealant. Afterwords, I fiberg=
lassed over the hard point, which I had previously rounded and beveled. When=
 it came time to finish the aircraft, I used micro to build up an aerodynami=
c "blister" to cover the hard point and quick drain. I probably lost a coupl=
e of Potential Knots of airspeed by sticking the drain out into the wind, bu=
t I won't have to worry so much about un-drainable water in the wing tanks.
>=20
> Speaking of water, we had a recent weather change here in NC from 40-ish t=
o warm and humid and rainy. The entire aircraft was sweating in the hangar -=
 not just the engine but the fiberglass airframe as well. I'd never seen any=
thing like that and I have to assume that under such conditions, moisture co=
uld also build up inside the fuel tanks. It's something to think about. Here=
's what my "blister" looks like, and you can actually see the condensation i=
n the photo:
>=20
> <Transformed_Lancair lower cowling - wing sumps 005.JPG>
>=20
>=20
>=20