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Stall vane protector

A

Ausflyer

Well Known Member
I wonder if I?m the only one with this problem. I have a love/hate relationship with my stall warning vane. I love it when it beeps as I touch down. But I hate it when it tears up my good pants, leaves a scratch, or worse still leaves me wondering if this time I?ve finally wrecked it.
I share a hangar with 3 other aircraft, and it?s tight. When my 12 is at the back, the Esqual tail feathers leave me about a foot clearance. When I get focused on a task, I forget, and ?ouch? again.
Larry recommends putting a small radius on the corners. Is that really enough?
This is one little challenge that has me beat. Has anyone out there come up with a practical stall vane cap that protects you both?
Help needed
Rod
 
Take a yogurt cup, cut a big round notch in it to match the leading edge curvature, and hold it on with a piece of blue painter tape.
 
Raquetball?

How about a racquetball - they're hollow rubber, about 2" in diameter. Cut a slit in it and slide it over the vane. They're usually blue in color, but I think you can get 'em in "remove before flight" red, too.
 
We use a wine cork with a slot cut into it and red tape to hold it together and then hung a red remove before flight flag on the end. The price will vary depending on taste.;)
 
A stall vane that is painted a bright yellow is easier to see and avoid.
A homemade AOA probe does not protrude beyond the wing leading edge. See http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showpost.php?p=584937&postcount=14
An AOA will give a progressive warning, unlike the stall vane that is either on or off.
Another option is a Cessna reed type stall warning system that is flush with the wing.
http://members.eaa.org/home/homebuilders/building/instruments/4A%20Look%20at%20Stall%20Warning%20Devices.html
Although it might not be loud enough to be heard in a noisy cockpit.
Joe Gores
 
After seeing this thread about a stall vane protector I became obsessed with coming up with a solution. I came up with the following design.

DSC08991.jpg


I put the instructions on my build page

http://craigsrv-12.blogspot.com/2012/04/building-stall-vane-cover.html
 
Best stall vane protector ever!

My patented device is a yellow tennis ball! Take a box cutter and cut an "X " about 2 inches long each leg. Squeeze the tennis ball which will open the slot and place over vane. Tried to get it registered as an iPhone App but was turned down. If you use it, you are required to see my great paint job at AirVenture 2012.
Bob Kibby "N712BK"
 
I think I will grind a nice small radius (or is it radii as there are two) to eliminate the scratches. A flag is not a bad idea either as when cleaning the bugs off the leading edge I almost always forget to duck when I get to the vane.
Dick Seiders
 
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