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Thread: Drain holes in elevator horizontal stab and fuselage?

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jun 2010
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    Cannon Falls, Mn
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    Default Drain holes in elevator horizontal stab and fuselage?

    The folks at Poly Fiber recommend drain holes on all the tail feathers and fuselage. Kitfox construction manual only speaks about the wing. With the wood ribs in the hs and elevator it seems like a good idea. I'm planning to follow PF's recommendation - did anyone else do that? I searched threads but didn't find anyone thinking of doing same. What's ya'alls opinion?

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    N Little Rock Ar
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    128

    Default Re: Drain holes in elevator horizontal stab and fuselage?

    yes Fabric aircraft need drain holes

    never bigger than a wasp ass

  3. #3
    Senior Member jiott's Avatar
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    Portland, OR
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    Default Re: Drain holes in elevator horizontal stab and fuselage?

    Yes, I put drain grommets in the trailing edge of the elevator, the HS already has cutouts for the struts, and in the extreme end of the fuse, and just in front of the transverse steel tube under the seat back.
    Jim Ott
    Portland, OR
    Kitfox SS7 flying
    Rotax 912ULS

  4. #4
    Senior Member PapuaPilot's Avatar
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    Nov 2013
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    Nampa, Idaho
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    Default Re: Drain holes in elevator horizontal stab and fuselage?

    I used seaplane grommets for every thing. I put two holes per side on my horizontal stab by the aft spar and two per side on the elevator; one at the trailing edge and one at the leading edge spar (in case the control lock was holding full up elevator). For the wing I put holes the trailing edge inboard corners on every bay.
    Phil Nelson
    A&P-IA, Maintenance Instructor
    KF 5 Outback, Cont. IO-240
    Flying since 2016

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Jun 2010
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    Cannon Falls, Mn
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    15

    Default Re: Drain holes in elevator horizontal stab and fuselage?

    Thanks guys! Time to burn some holes......

  6. #6
    Super Moderator Av8r3400's Avatar
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    Merrill, WI
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    Default Re: Drain holes in elevator horizontal stab and fuselage?

    If you have two layers of fabric (Polyfiber System) that's all you need to burn a small drain hole. I used a "pencil" style soldering iron.

    I put drains in the tail feathers and rear fuselage. Don't forget the rudder, too.
    Av8r3400
    Kitfox Model IV
    The Mangy Fox
    912UL 105hp Zipper
    YouTube Videos

  7. #7
    Senior Member Esser's Avatar
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    Jul 2011
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    Edmonton, AB
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    Default Re: Drain holes in elevator horizontal stab and fuselage?

    If you are using aerothane just be aware that burning it creates cyanide gas so do it outside and upwind
    ------------------
    Josh Esser
    Flying SS7
    Rotax 914iS
    AirMaster Prop

    Edmonton, AB, CWL3

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