Matt's RV-8 Project



Matt Dralle's RV-8 Project
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Date:  6-12-2011
Number of Hours:  0.50
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Right Side NACA Vent - Part 01

The standard RV-8 fuselage comes with single NACA vent on the left side of the fuselage for the pilot. Some builders split this air source with a "Y" splitter and run it to two vents on the instrument panel. But this reduces the airflow by 50%. When I was building the first fuselage (hereafter referred to as the "legacy fuselage"), I noticed that the fuselage kit came with two NACA plastic intakes, but I only saw a single NACA cutout on the left side of the fuselage. I figured this was Van's way of making sure that builders did 50% of the work, so I installed a second NACA cutout on the right side as well. Later, I discovered that the second NACA intake was for under the right WING and was to feed the rear passenger. You weren't suppose to add another vent to the right side of the fuselage! Well, after flying N998RV (hereafter referred to as "Ruby Vixen") for 170 hours, I came to really appreciate having TWO FULLY functioning vents mounted in the instrument panel! The extra air felt really great on those 100+ degree days in that greenhouse canopy! Especially with black upholstery! :-)

Anyway, to that end, I set about cutting a NACA vent hole in the right side of the fuselage again. I made a paper doll template using the left side as a pattern, and then flipped it over and scotch taped it to the right side. I marked the cutout, drilled the corners with a 3/32" bit, used a Dremel cutoff wheel to rough-cut the hole, then used a combinations of flat, half-round, and rat-tailed files to get the hole looking "just right". I have to say, I think that this hole turned out even better than the extra one I did on the legacy fuselage! Hopefully that will be a sign of workmanship to come on "Ruby Vixen II"!

Here is an interesting web site on the science behind the odd NACA shape and why its cool (pun intended):

  • http://f1-dictionary.110mb.com/naca_duct.html

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    Right Side NACA Vent Cutout

    Right Side NACA Vent Cutout

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    Right Side NACA Vent Cutout

    Right Side NACA Vent Cutout

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    Right Side NACA Vent Cutout

    Right Side NACA Vent Cutout

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