Wing Tank Vent System Changed!

If you've been following along with the wing tank installation series, be forewarned that the previously documented fuselage portion of the wing tank vent system has been changed significantly. There was something that was unsettling me about the complexity of the vent system that I could not readily identify.  The plumbing just had to be simplified.  My RV-12 building buddy near Austin, Texas had the trick.

He had located the belly vents aft of the baggage bulkhead, which had the tremendous benefit of eliminating one of the two interconnect vent lines.  Once I saw it, I was all in.  It was such a simple upgrade!  Thanks Dick.

 Below is a reasonable overview of the fuselage vent system.  Of particular note are the partial sheets of aluminum jigged into place where the tailcone will eventually be attached to the forward fuselage.  This jigging was set up to locate the external mounting of the belly vents and siphon break exit.  A similar jig is seen in the upper right portion of the photo which details the location of the siphon break.

This is a close up from the side at tailcone floor level of the vent line as it exits the fuselage.

 Next, is a close up view of the cross over vent line which connects the two vents to one another.

The siphon break line exits through an aluminum bung with an AN fitting....again, through the top of the tailcone.  This shot just shows the tailcone on the floor of the shop.

Shown below is a poor quality picture of the screen covering the opening of the siphon break line on the tailcone.

Next is a shot of one of the externally mounted belly vents on the tailcone.

Once the tailcone was mounted, the plumbing associated with the belly vents and siphon break was secured to the skin of the tailcone.  Shown below is the passenger side belly vent plumbing.

 Also on the passenger side is the plumbing associated with the siphon break.

 That should about do it for the final configuration of the fuselage vent system....and I am quite pleased with it.