Ron Lee
Well Known Member
Today I finally got to use my Smoking Airplanes (SA) smoke system. The website is:
http://www.smokingairplanes.com/
I bought the 3.5 gallon tank and two injectors. The kit comes complete with three exceptions (two fixed and one possibly unique to my installation):
1) The anti-siphon assembly would have interfered with the passenger rudder pedals where I placed it so I bought a 90 degree assembly from Ace hardware, cut the hose and solved that issue. I mentioned it to John and I believe that he will include a 90 degree part in future kits. How I did it is shown below:
2) I had to fabricate a 3" x 4" (approximate) aluminum plate to install the two fuses and relay and then bolt that to bulkhead behind the instrument panel. A better part for that function is now being included with new kits. See Breaker/panel relay picture in Bob's post immediately following mine.
3) I put the bulkhead fitting on the passenger side (RV6A). Due to a heat muff on the right side Vetterman exhaust, I did not feel that I had adequate length on the 18" hose. I could have used it had I placed the injector aft of the heat muff and exhaust hangar but did not like that location. I placed the injector at the Y in the exhaust. The 24" hose worked better so I ordered another. Others considering a similar placement may want two 24" hoses instead of one each 18"/24" hose. This is only if you get two injectors and have a similar arrangement as mine).
4) Overall kit completeness: (New addition to original post). Here I will get really nit-picky in assessing kit completeness. In addition to the two items above (#1 and #2) since added to the kit I had to provide the following parts:
a. One grommet in the baggage floor for the vent tube and blue power line
b. Two Adel clamps for the right side injector hose
c. Tube wrap to protect the left side injector hose from chaffing
d. Largish aluminum plate that supports the smoke oil tank because I placed it on thin carpeting instead of directly on the baggage area floor
e. Appropriate countersunk and pan head screws to secure the plate from d. above and to secure the tank holding aluminum brackets
f. AN3 hardware to secure the 3" x 4" plate that holds the fuses and relay
g. Bought a certain size drill to make the holes for the fuses (not needed if you use the new plate added to his kits in November 2010)
Assessment: Except for the drill bit, I had everything needed. My opinion at this point is that the only thing that "may" be desirable to be added is the grommet. That would only be if it is close to universally needed. If you keep adding everything that one or two people may need, you just increase the cost for everyone. So my opinion is that his assertion that it is a complete kit is a good statement.
Based on Bob's comment about a 30" braided hose, I would have needed one too if I had placed the bulkhead fitting closer to the right side of the firewall. I suggest looking at the fitting and hose pictures so you know what we are talking about. Then use a hose of some sort to determine what length braided hose(s) you will need and order the correct length(s) initially.
Bulkhead fitting and two hoses to injectors:
Right side injector. I had to have a 1.5" long piece of steel added to the right side of the injector plate so that I could add a hose clamp above the Y junction of the exhaust.
The instructions were good and often mentioned to NOT cut wires/hoses too early . That is good. I had two areas that I did not understand and will email John to see if I am being a putz or if he needs to clarify it.
I did fabricate a plate that goes between the baggage area floor/carpet and the tank. When I installed the pilot side step I installed nutplates on the pilot side baggage floor and that has come in handy.
The vent went in the bay just inboard of the outer skin and I ran the wire for the pump from that area to the center then up the center post under the instrument panel. In the picture below, the vent tube is in front of the tank bracket. Below the tank bracket is the light gray aluminum plate that supports the tank.
This side view of the tank better shows the aluminum plate that I made to support the tank. The screws under the tank are countersunk. All the screws go through the aluminum plate and carpet before going through the baggage floor skin.
The control 3 way switch, LED and momentary contact push switch were placed on the instrument panel near the throttle.
On the first test flight I opened the valve 3/4 turn versus the recommended 1.25 turn. Several people on the ground thought the smoke was good. Note that there were thin light clouds high so that was a detriment. First pass was using the momentary switch. Second pass should have been with the 3 way switch in Continuous mode but I messed that up so made a third pass that way.
Overall it was relatively easy except for having to work underneath the panel. In hindsight, I maybe should have placed the fuses and relay under the passenger side. It would have been far easier working on it. Someone with a tip up canopy or RV8(A) who placed the tank in the forward baggage area could install it far quicker than I did. I did not keep track of hours since I am borderline inept, take too long to think about placement and drill holes and get in and out of the cockpit dozens of times to get something done.
So far I am pleased with it and plan on using it at suitable times during flights to include, but not limited to, helping other pilots see me when when ATC calls me out to those pilots while using flight following. See VCAS picture at bottom of this link:
http://www.smokingairplanes.com/SMOKE%20SYSTEM%20SPECIAL%20FEATURES.htm
The only real problem is getting smoke oil. I used something called Conosol 260 (spelling?) from a RC hobby shop at $17 a gallon. Today I found a local pilot who will sell 5 gallon containers at $10 a gallon so that helps.
The Canopus 13 oil often mentioned (a few say not to use it) has not been found yet.
Customer support: Excellent. I called John several times and he was most helpful. The 24" hose and another part I ruined were sent very quickly. No need to discuss the ruined part. It was cheap enough and a typical goober award event.
Caveat: I try to do things that make sense but sometimes come up short. If you see something that is hazardous or just plain stupid, do not attribute it to Smoking Airplanes. If hazardous, let me know.
http://www.smokingairplanes.com/
I bought the 3.5 gallon tank and two injectors. The kit comes complete with three exceptions (two fixed and one possibly unique to my installation):
1) The anti-siphon assembly would have interfered with the passenger rudder pedals where I placed it so I bought a 90 degree assembly from Ace hardware, cut the hose and solved that issue. I mentioned it to John and I believe that he will include a 90 degree part in future kits. How I did it is shown below:
2) I had to fabricate a 3" x 4" (approximate) aluminum plate to install the two fuses and relay and then bolt that to bulkhead behind the instrument panel. A better part for that function is now being included with new kits. See Breaker/panel relay picture in Bob's post immediately following mine.
3) I put the bulkhead fitting on the passenger side (RV6A). Due to a heat muff on the right side Vetterman exhaust, I did not feel that I had adequate length on the 18" hose. I could have used it had I placed the injector aft of the heat muff and exhaust hangar but did not like that location. I placed the injector at the Y in the exhaust. The 24" hose worked better so I ordered another. Others considering a similar placement may want two 24" hoses instead of one each 18"/24" hose. This is only if you get two injectors and have a similar arrangement as mine).
4) Overall kit completeness: (New addition to original post). Here I will get really nit-picky in assessing kit completeness. In addition to the two items above (#1 and #2) since added to the kit I had to provide the following parts:
a. One grommet in the baggage floor for the vent tube and blue power line
b. Two Adel clamps for the right side injector hose
c. Tube wrap to protect the left side injector hose from chaffing
d. Largish aluminum plate that supports the smoke oil tank because I placed it on thin carpeting instead of directly on the baggage area floor
e. Appropriate countersunk and pan head screws to secure the plate from d. above and to secure the tank holding aluminum brackets
f. AN3 hardware to secure the 3" x 4" plate that holds the fuses and relay
g. Bought a certain size drill to make the holes for the fuses (not needed if you use the new plate added to his kits in November 2010)
Assessment: Except for the drill bit, I had everything needed. My opinion at this point is that the only thing that "may" be desirable to be added is the grommet. That would only be if it is close to universally needed. If you keep adding everything that one or two people may need, you just increase the cost for everyone. So my opinion is that his assertion that it is a complete kit is a good statement.
Based on Bob's comment about a 30" braided hose, I would have needed one too if I had placed the bulkhead fitting closer to the right side of the firewall. I suggest looking at the fitting and hose pictures so you know what we are talking about. Then use a hose of some sort to determine what length braided hose(s) you will need and order the correct length(s) initially.
Bulkhead fitting and two hoses to injectors:
Right side injector. I had to have a 1.5" long piece of steel added to the right side of the injector plate so that I could add a hose clamp above the Y junction of the exhaust.
The instructions were good and often mentioned to NOT cut wires/hoses too early . That is good. I had two areas that I did not understand and will email John to see if I am being a putz or if he needs to clarify it.
I did fabricate a plate that goes between the baggage area floor/carpet and the tank. When I installed the pilot side step I installed nutplates on the pilot side baggage floor and that has come in handy.
The vent went in the bay just inboard of the outer skin and I ran the wire for the pump from that area to the center then up the center post under the instrument panel. In the picture below, the vent tube is in front of the tank bracket. Below the tank bracket is the light gray aluminum plate that supports the tank.
This side view of the tank better shows the aluminum plate that I made to support the tank. The screws under the tank are countersunk. All the screws go through the aluminum plate and carpet before going through the baggage floor skin.
The control 3 way switch, LED and momentary contact push switch were placed on the instrument panel near the throttle.
On the first test flight I opened the valve 3/4 turn versus the recommended 1.25 turn. Several people on the ground thought the smoke was good. Note that there were thin light clouds high so that was a detriment. First pass was using the momentary switch. Second pass should have been with the 3 way switch in Continuous mode but I messed that up so made a third pass that way.
Overall it was relatively easy except for having to work underneath the panel. In hindsight, I maybe should have placed the fuses and relay under the passenger side. It would have been far easier working on it. Someone with a tip up canopy or RV8(A) who placed the tank in the forward baggage area could install it far quicker than I did. I did not keep track of hours since I am borderline inept, take too long to think about placement and drill holes and get in and out of the cockpit dozens of times to get something done.
So far I am pleased with it and plan on using it at suitable times during flights to include, but not limited to, helping other pilots see me when when ATC calls me out to those pilots while using flight following. See VCAS picture at bottom of this link:
http://www.smokingairplanes.com/SMOKE%20SYSTEM%20SPECIAL%20FEATURES.htm
The only real problem is getting smoke oil. I used something called Conosol 260 (spelling?) from a RC hobby shop at $17 a gallon. Today I found a local pilot who will sell 5 gallon containers at $10 a gallon so that helps.
The Canopus 13 oil often mentioned (a few say not to use it) has not been found yet.
Customer support: Excellent. I called John several times and he was most helpful. The 24" hose and another part I ruined were sent very quickly. No need to discuss the ruined part. It was cheap enough and a typical goober award event.
Caveat: I try to do things that make sense but sometimes come up short. If you see something that is hazardous or just plain stupid, do not attribute it to Smoking Airplanes. If hazardous, let me know.
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