From: "Nat Puffer" Subject: Re: COZY: relief tubes Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 15:40:55 -0500 Dear Howard, I think Mike Melvill tried this on his Long EZ and decided that it was too much of a problem washing them out after being used to keep them from smelling. Why don't you just keep a plastic (light weight) wide-mouthed jar in one of the side pockets with a string around the neck so you can hang it up when it is full, and empty it out and wash it out in the washroom at your next gas stop. It also helps if you don't drink several cups of coffee in the morning of long flights. Regards, Nat ---------- > From: Howard Rogers > To: cozy_builders@hpwarhw.an.hp.com > Subject: COZY: relief tubes > Date: Friday, May 15, 1998 4:01 PM > > I seem to remember a discussion on this subject, in the past, but I do not > remember if it was on this newsgroup, or some other one I was reading, at > the time. A LONG time ago, when I was installing my gear legs (my project > is about to be ressurected after a very long languishing period), I thought > I did something very clever. I installed three tubes down the trailing > edge of my gear legs. A length of the nylaflow, with enough length to make > it all the way forward to pedal-mounted master cylinders, an additional > length, to act as a spare, in the event the first tube was damaged, and a > third length of polyflow, for the purpose of supplying relief tubes. The > plan was to provide a tube for each seat (Long EZ), taking one down each > gear leg, and exiting out the trailing edge of the wheelpant. All of the > tubes mentioned here were 1/4 inch OD. I have since had serious doubts > about the adequacy of that diameter to handle much of a flow rate, for the > relief tubes (what was I thinking?). I was hoping to tap into a good > low-pressure zone to assist, but I admit that I am out of my element, here. > Since our compadre, Bulent, has offered to share the savings on some of > the stronger brake line, I now have no more excuses to keep me from tearing > off the stuff that is there, and redoing it more to my liking. Instead of > a spare brake line, I think I will simply run a larger diameter "conduit" > tube, so that replacement would be a breeze. I will run a larger diameter > relief tube, as well, and I will run a second "conduit" tube just because > it is easier to fair in the triangular shape that three tubes form on the > leading edge. Besides, I can then run various wires down those tubes to > experiment with ham antennas, etc. I would like to hear from anyone who > has had success (or failure) with relief tubes, so I won't have to do this > a THIRD time! > > Howard Rogers A&P 2005148 > > From: Lee Devlin Subject: Re: COZY: relief tubes Date: Fri, 15 May 98 17:51:40 MDT Nat wrote: > I think Mike Melvill tried this on his Long EZ and decided that it was too > much of a problem washing them out after being used to keep them from > smelling. Why don't you just keep a plastic (light weight) wide-mouthed jar > in one of the side pockets with a string around the neck so you can hang it > up when it is full, and empty it out and wash it out in the washroom at > your next gas stop. It also helps if you don't drink several cups of coffee > in the morning of long flights. I believe that Mike has written several times about installing relief tubes and they are 'mission critical' if you intend to fly around the world like he did. They are not maintenance free, as Nat points out in his message. I've considered them and but haven't made any provisions for them in my Cozy or modified my LongEZ with them. I have, however, used one of those Lil' Johns you can get from Sporty's while flying along in the LongEZ. It has a wide neck and screw top lid and which is leakproof. For storage, I use a nylon drawstring bag which I put in the strake. This bag also allows me to dispose of the contents in a stealthy manner at the FBO. These nylon drawstring bags (available at REI and other outdoor stores) are the best way to store items in the strakes that you may need to access in flight since you can just retrieve them by the drawstring. Lee Devlin LongEZ N36MX http://members.aol.com/lee810 From: Steen8751A Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 19:57:15 EDT Subject: Re: COZY: relief tubes I use a 1/2 gal liguid laundry detergent jug. The pouring spout can be pulled out by hand, leaving a nice wide opening. The soap residue might help a little as a deodorant too. I started this in my VariEze 8 years ago and still use this trick I my Bonanza. Doug Steen Date: Sun, 17 May 98 8:27:33 EDT From: "Nick J Ugolini" Subject: re: Re: COZY: relief tubes I went completely away from tubes, jars,bottles, etc. (I do have relief tubes in my plane). I perfer to use a 1 gal plastic ziplock bag. Buy a box of extra capacity Womens Blatter control ?cups?. Take the absorbent jell pack out and put it in the zip lock bag. I usually put in two. and the put it in a second ziplock bag (double protection). If you bleed all the air out of the bags they take up no space (I keep one under my seat cushion) and are VERY light weight. When you need one, it is always there under the seat (no pre planning). When you have to go, you can literally zip one around yourself, and the jell absorbs all the liquids. Stop by the FBO and drop it in the trash. BTW: The USAF now uses a similar system for their pilots (bags with jell) Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 07:57:59 +0200 From: Rego Burger Subject: COZY: relief tubes I think unless extremely long flights are absolutely vital they should not be executed. Jon Johanson who flew around the world twice in his RV-4 shared this thought with me, after his experiences. I was boasting of potential fuel range on my Cozy and he suggested I match the fuel endurance with my bladder endurance. Him being a medical person noted that the average persons endurance is 5 hrs, provided you did not top up with any liquid that stimulates this natural call. If one plans routes well enough, the stops nature dictates, will help curb fatigue related mistakes....just the break you get can really save your life. So unless you intend flying more than 5hrs every time you take to the skies a "range extender" bottle would do the trick. If you wish to set records I guess the relief tube would be a worthwhile installation. One little child ( they're magic ) asked Jon while inquiring about this tube....was silent for about 5 min... then it came, Mr Jon?.....the tube looks awful small to get the "other stuff" out? At the End of the day get to know your limits and those of your aeroplane. Rego Burger, web site: http://home.intekom.com/glen/rnb.htm (home e-mail) mailto:rnb@intekom.co.za RSA From: "Nat Puffer" Subject: Re: COZY: RE: Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 10:49:09 -0500 Nick, Shirley and I both use wide-mouthed bottles, but then we have been married 51 years. Regards, Nat ---------- > From: Nick J Ugolini > To: cozy_builders@hpwarhw.an.hp.com > Subject: COZY: RE: > Date: Monday, May 18, 1998 10:18 AM > > [L. Wayne Hicks] BTW: Shuttle astronauts use Depends diapers. (True > story!) > > I have heard that some women pilots use the Depend diapers as an emergency > "release device". I cant imagine... > > UUMMM??? > I wonder if I could talk my girlfriend into to using them. We might make > less frequent stops.... >