Fred's points are exactly the reason our Europa will be Night/VFR only.
There's just too many variables, IMO, to have to deal with.
Just my 2 cents,
Steve G.
Fred Fillinger wrote:
>
> Hi, Paul --
>
> I would guess that the type of IMC conditions that
> would charge the airframe up enough to disable
> avionics would be of the heavy-duty variety. I
> have experienced failure, in an aluminum A/C, but
> it affected only comm xmit, and only briefly, and
> it was inside of a cloud producing inter-cloud
> lightning (don't ask; long story).
>
> How much better a metal airframe w/o static wicks
> dissipates it's static, verses a plastic one, I
> don't know. I'd bet that even inside of a layer
> raining out the bottom, there would be no real
> problem. The real danger is filing in weather
> where lightning strike is possible. See
> www.open.gov.uk/aaib/dec99htm/bga3705.htm, where
> it destroyed a glider, for an excellent treatise
> on the topic.
>
> >From all I've read, nothing can be done about it
> (the only solution being metallic mesh laid up
> within the fiberglass structure.
>
> There are other considerations, too, for filing in
> IMC at temps below freezing. How well the
> laminar-flow wing can take any clear or rime
> build-up, before the climb-rate goes to zip, and
> the landing characteristics go crazy, is unknown
> (anyone care to test it out!). And if you figure
> a way to mount a heated pitot that won't melt
> structure, the electrical sys may not have the
> amps for the job.
>
> Then there's the wisdom of having separate power
> systems for the attitude and turn gyros, meaning
> vacuum plus electrical, or dual electrical with
> all electric gyros.
> BTW, I'm going for IFR cert, but have the latter.
>
> So, where you say you'd only need to "pop on top",
> I'd agree with no-CB, warm-weather tops, and add
> maybe 2-3 in haze as acceptable.
>
> Regards,
> Fred Fillinger, A063
>
> Paul McAllister wrote:
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > In this months Sport Aviation, mention was made about the problem of static
> > build up in composite aircraft when flying in clouds. Apparently this is
> > due to the water molecules passing over the aircraft skin.
> >
> > Most of my IFR flying consists of "pop on top", but I have had a few times
> > when I have been flying in very mild conditions in side clouds for up to an
> > hour at a time.
> >
> > Given that I intend to certify my Europa for IFR I was wondering if I need
> > to be giving some consideration to how I might discharge static build up.
> > Any one have some knowledge or experience on this topic ?
> >
> > Thanks, Paul (363)
> >
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