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  1. R

    Inspecting welds on a tube frame?

    Your best bet is to go to the welding equipment suppliers websites - they have thousands of free pictures and videos - because they want you to buy their products. From my perspective (as a certified weld inspector since 1977) and decades of practical experience: - every weld has some sort of...
  2. R

    Open Source PSRU Design -- Is it possible without personal liability to contributors?

    While this may be just a forum to discuss ideas, or to offer encouragement to newbies wanting to get involved in DIY building an aircraft - anything involving legal liability should probably be left to lawyers. Why? Because if your worried about liability, you should probably just go and buy...
  3. R

    Vans finally taking the laser cut hole cracking problem seriously.. 07-04-2023

    Yes, I was a bit shocked to see how easily they could be detected visually - you certainly do not need Eddy Current instruments. I guess Van's is going to be on the hook to replace every single part they shipped out with these defects. They will have to modify the Quality Assurance programs...
  4. R

    Vans finally taking the laser cut hole cracking problem seriously.. 07-04-2023

    I have been involved in the aircraft NDT industry since 1975. These kinds of problems pop up all the time and sometimes it makes me feel like a Dutch boy trying to plug all the holes in the dike, but they just keep on coming endlessly. For this problem - as a retro solution to check every...
  5. R

    Stick vs Flux Wire vs Homebuilding ?

    Please consider the attached articles regarding 'welding 4130 chrome moly steel' as a screenshot or amended text document
  6. R

    Stick vs Flux Wire vs Homebuilding ?

    No matter what method you use to melt metal, my biggest concern is how do you keep the impurities out of the molten metal? High carbon 4130 steel, or stainless, or titanium, or aluminum, are all extremely susceptible to impurities in the air we breath. There has got to be some form of shielding...
  7. R

    Stick vs Flux Wire vs Homebuilding ?

    It seems like dozens of people on this forum have opinions about the welding processes, BUT how many of them are certified welders, or certified weld inspectors. I am a certified weld inspector & Non Destructive Testing Specialist - X-ray & Ultrasonics since 1977. I have X-rayed thousands of...
  8. R

    Welded aluminum brackets?

    Mike: If you are satisfied that this weld is adequate for your purpose - so be it. You are the only one who can make that decision. I am absolutely positive no FAA inspector would ever notice - especially if you smooth off the cap and powder coat the part. However, it was not my intention to...
  9. R

    Welded aluminum brackets?

    BJC: If you have to ask 'what an aircraft certified welder is?' - then there is nothing that I can say that would mean anything to you. Just one point I will make - you cannot weld anything on any certified aircraft or part, unless you have journeyman certification by American Welding Society...
  10. R

    Welded aluminum brackets?

    I realize this is a DIY homebuild article - but risking your life should also be a priority. Welding is one of those trades that should never be taken for granted nor considered easy to learn - it is one of the least understood and most complicated to learn. It takes years, and years, and years...
  11. R

    Any successful developments of roll welding aluminum?

    I am a certified journeyman weld inspector and have been using visual, x-ray and ultrasonics to inspect welds for more than 40 years. The largest impediment to your problem is that when working with stainless steel, titanium, aluminum or other exotic alloys, you have to remove oxygen and other...
  12. R

    PSRU choices

    My dad bought a FWF kit from Stuart Davis at AutoPSRU for his Cessna 172 with a Chevy LS 320hp engine and c/s MT 3 blade prop. He has been flying it since 2019 and says it has reduced his cockpit workload by 50%. He also says it is just like jumping into a Chevy truck, it starts instantly...
  13. R

    What aviation news, blogs or e-mail newsletters do you actively read?

    Canadian Owners & Pilots Association, AvFlyer, EAA, CEAA, Kitplanes occassionaly. However, I stopped coming to this website because it does not offer me what I require. [Mod edit. Snipped inappropriate comments about the forum.]
  14. R

    FWF Chevy LS V8 engines and PRSU's currently installed and flying on OEM and homebuilt aircraft

    You do realize that we are talking about home built aircraft here? There is no such thing as a product liability guarantee, or insurance in this catagory. I don't think you will ever find a PSRU manufacturer who is willing to go through all the testing to see what their PSRU can withstand, let...
  15. R

    FWF Chevy LS V8 engines and PRSU's currently installed and flying on OEM and homebuilt aircraft

    Attached is an article that was published by AOPA.
  16. R

    FWF Chevy LS V8 engines and PRSU's currently installed and flying on OEM and homebuilt aircraft

    With the 1.7 to 1 speed reduction gearbox, it would be a lot more torque and HP to the prop at a lower speed. Using the generic horsepower and torque figures is just being reserved and cautious on the part of most PSRU manufacturers. I would use a cautious TBO of 2500 flight hours, even though I...
  17. R

    FWF Chevy LS V8 engines and PRSU's currently installed and flying on OEM and homebuilt aircraft

    Why would knowing the 'G' limit be of any value when it is installed in one of the most generic, stable, easy to fly aircraft in the world? The only reason you might want to know 'G' limit is if you install it in a Mustang or Spitfire and intend to try your hand at air combat.
  18. R

    FWF Chevy LS V8 engines and PRSU's currently installed and flying on OEM and homebuilt aircraft

    If you read my comments about 3" above yours, or looked at the above pictures - you would have noticed that my dad already has an MT 3 blade, constant speed propeller and I know exactly how much it costs - so why would I be surprised?
  19. R

    FWF Chevy LS V8 engines and PRSU's currently installed and flying on OEM and homebuilt aircraft

    The weight difference between the old antique air cooled beater engine and the FWF LS1 Chevy - called for a 30 pound weight to be installed just behind the rear seats, to keep the center of gravity within limits. However, with the extra 200 horsepower and at least 300 lb/ft more torque, much...
  20. R

    FWF Chevy LS V8 engines and PRSU's currently installed and flying on OEM and homebuilt aircraft

    Why would you make a statement like this - without any proof or supporting documentation? it is a waste of typing time.
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