OT-Aircraft guys - Where can I soak up some tech?

If you really want to learn to work on aircraft, try to get into the USN as an AMS, ADJ, AMH, AE, or anything else in the aircraft field. It's not for the faint of heart though. If you see one of these flying telephone poles go past your jet like this, you know you've been living right! If you don't see it, you just took the last train headed west.

pigpen

 

Ah! That plane is Glacier Girl. She's a P-38(E I think). Found under 200 ft. of Greenland ice! I got to see her at Oshkosh 2005. If ever metal could be sexy! That plane is perfect for those people who bitch about us cutting up cars. Just look what they can restore. Hell, I've worked on restoring the second oldest B-17 in existance. If you ask, most of these guys will love the help. If anyone around Chicago wants to know more about the B-17E in Marango, IL, just PM me. I'm sure Mike will dig the help.

 

Pics!

 

http://www.airventure.org/ for a week, starting Juyl 14. Fly(flea) market, you'll fing your peter tube there, plus zillions of unique aircraft junk/parts/momorbielia/. Sign up for tech demos all week long, sheetmetal, motor maintenance, propeller, etc. Search Trade-a-Plane, Aircraft Spruce & Specialty, ATS, EAA,

 

I'm too old and beat up to enlist (I tried in Oct '01).

I work with many ex-AF/NAVY people. I'm always impressed with the knowledge they took home. Always more impressive than the Ivy league grads I work with. (My clients aren't reading the HAMB, are they? Nah)

 

for basic aircraft mechanics look up TM (technical manual) 1-1500-204-23-1 through ...i believe 1-1500-204-23-10.....i know the -10 manual covers airframe repairs and i believe the -8 manual covers welding or machining......or both. these are real strait forward manuals once you get used to reading TM's....lots of great info...just have to pick through it. I have some in pdf format if you would like them PM me.....they are unclassified and online...either way

 

Be careful around those heated Pitot Tubes/Probes they get extremely hot. Like 1200 degrees. It will sear your hand instantly! not just burn, but sear! For the idea of the airspeed indicator, the layout should work, but at the much lower speed of a car the gauge is the deciding factor. If I am not mistaken most airspeed indicators are marked in Knots Indicated Airspeed. Do the math and break it down to miles per hour. Also do not blow into it to whatever port/ports are there. The bellows inside can be very delicate and thus easily damaged by over pressurizing by volume. Many more modern indicators use 2 types of pressure to make a better/corrected high speed/mach indication. This is by pitot (ram air) and static pressures. But that is for flying stuff. If you need a pitot probe for this, be sure and mount it in clean free stream air. Any turbulence in front of it may skew the reading.

FWIW I cut my teeth on F-15 Avionics/flight controls. Currently I get to mess with some of the newest fighter plane stuff. It would have been cool to have this job in the old days of the Army Air Corp/Air Force though. seems like things were much simpler then.

 

I know here in Canada, the local trade school has short courses in "aircraft structures" that are not too expensive, sometimes they are even night school courses. Lots of good information on sheet metal forming and rivetting, plus good info on fastener technology. Check out your area, you might be surprised at what is available.

 

To add to what green73 said.....and correct a few little things.....Air Speed Indicators come in measured knots and also in measured miles per hour. it depends on the aircraft and its purpose......generally newer ASI gauges are read in knots...however you can find new ASI's in MPH (new). I would avoid knots unless your used to looking at charts while on the fly (commo cards....whether driving or flying are not fun to finangle while doin stuff) save yourself the effort and find one in MPH. You can look on here and see pics of them reading in MPH....I also have one that im using in ...MPH. Another reason i would go with MPH....if Johnny Law decides he wants to get anal....a gauge reading MPH vs knots may save you a ticket.

As far as pitot static tubes.......they have been using "pitot" and "static" measurements since way back....like around the 1940's. If you can find a new pitot static tube from the earlier years you may be better off as they arent as touchy

Now the heated elements in pitot static tubes generally are ran between 24-28VDC....which you dont have on your car.....i dont believe in a automotive application that leaving this unhooked will cause any mis-reading.

I have worked with pitot systems in a handful of aircraft and have researched a lot about this for my build. Also I was a aircraft mechanic in the army with 10 years workin and flyin on them.

 

Good one!

In the just wondering department... is there a minimum speed for pitot tubes and air speed indicators to start working? Gary

 

if the gauge has a port labeled "P" for pitot and one "S" for static i would use a pitot static tube as it is designed for ram collection and static collection. You got a pic of the gauge?

 

All those guys above are right... if you are a younger man, try the Air Force or Naval Air. Nothing like hands on experience with the right stuff, doing it for the right cause. Gary

 

Gary.....no minimum speed required for ASI gauges to work.....depends on gauge....mine starts measurement at 20mph on the gauge....depending on your gauge is where it starts the higher the start point the less of reality speed limits will be known...you get a gauge that starts at 50 and your drivin in a 35....your guess is as good as lickin your finger and stickin it in the breeze....however that does work when you jump from planes in the army and your tryn to figure out how bad that parachute landing fall is gonna hurt

 

think it just got jump started.....didnt even see the date on this one....wow...wake up...think i need some coffee or glasses

 

HEY I like that suggestion,, get all the FREE training you can stand

 

Yes the best advice is to join the EAA. There are local chapters located all over the country and world, and the local members get together to help with easc other's projects, etc. I'm sure your local chapter would welcome you with open arms if you show a genuine interest. The EAA also puts on work shops around the country.