Hangar Flying

Hangar Flying => Hangar Flying => Topic started by: mwilli7119 on February 15, 2005, 09:26:32 AM

Title: Varieze cowling fitting
Post by: mwilli7119 on February 15, 2005, 09:26:32 AM

I am fitting the cowling to my Varieze. My question involve the P-51 scoop. How should I seal the the point where the to edge of the scoop meets the fuselage?  It looks like there is going to be leakage into the cowling unless I can come up with a suitable seal. Am I missing something?

The flanges come down the sides of the fuselage and the scoop is just held against the bottom.

Thanks in advance. Tell me if I am not being clear,  I will try to explain better.

Title: Varieze cowling fitting
Post by: Dan Patch on February 15, 2005, 11:16:14 AM

The way I did it was to mount the scoop inlet to the fuselage so that the cowl separates at the firewall plane, leaving the scoop attached to the fuselage.  This considerably reduces the bulk of the lower cowl (much easier to take on and off), and having the scoop attached cures the fuselage leakage problem.  

Actually, I made the entire fuselage panel between the gear legs and aft of the rear seat, including the premanently bonded scoop detachable.  I would suggest that you consider this option because working in the 'hell-hole' behind the rear seat and/or gear leg attach fittings is almost impossible without some way to access this area that is better than through the dinky hole in the rear seat.  Rutan says not to do this because this is a structural part of the fuselage, so you have to seriously tie the fuselage hatch/scoop to the longerons with proper attach bolts, etc.  After 24 yrs of operation I've never regretted doing it this way.