Ep. 28 - Rans S-21 Header Tank: Part 1

[@rogerkober9836]

I can’t even imagine the amount of satisfaction that must come from taking flight in an aircraft that you constructed with your own two hands. That’s brotherhood with Wilbur and Orville stuff! Also the awareness and familiarity you have with the entire aircraft structure and its composition. So very interesting to watch the process.

[@kylegoldston]

A Carbon Fiber fuel tank? Carbon isn't really great for Everything! There is a whole world of composite materials, Glass, polyester, aramid, basalt, etc. All of those are better than Carbon for a fuel tank. That tank looks like HDPE and is probably 10x stronger than your body cavity if you know what I mean. So yes you could make a tank that weighs half as much for 4-6x cost. I would recommend some significant amount of kevlar or Aramid for puncture/impact and a nomex honeycomb core for its individual cells that won't allow saturation. Basalt, Glass, or Carbon for rigidity and weight savings. I could find better fuel tank material by cutting up clothes from a thrift shop than using all Carbon. If I built a composite tank it would be kevlar-basalt-kevlar with selective nomex core for local stiffening in large flats and around fittings.

[@Outbound300]

Thrift shop clothes fuel tanks! Now there’s a business idea! Nearly free material and environmentally friendly. I like it! But seriously… I use the term carbon fiber loosely. More proper I should say composite. As you mention, there should be a mix of materials for specific purposes. I wouldn’t just whip one up with 2K twill CF and let ‘r rip.

[@MrBarbuster]

i dont like that tank installation. watched 4 others and i just dont like it. number one why does it have to be so big. just and inch smaller would make a big difference

[@Outbound300]

agreed! it could be 2 gallons less and it 'should' be aluminum at least. An ode to Rans' heritage as an ultralight aircraft company because it's very 'ultralight-ish'.

[@markzimmermann3441]

Share your source for the sticky neoprene tape. Pleeeze??

[@Outbound300]

www.mcmaster.com. Search for EPDM strip.

[@markzimmermann3441]

Allow for a shutoff between the header and pump assembly. 👍

[@RubenGonzalez-zk1sk]

"maybe I'll accelerate the carbon fiber program" :D