Newark777 From United States, joined Dec 2004, 8796 posts, RR: 39 Posted (3 years 10 hours ago) and read 4957 times:
Could anyone explain what exactly is going on in this picture? Is this guy actually duct taping the covering of the engine pylon? Funny picture either way.
474218 From United States, joined Oct 2005, 2985 posts, RR: 3 Reply 2, posted (3 years 10 hours ago) and read 4946 times:
Its aluminized (aluminum) tape also known as speed tape or 600 mph tape. The sheet metal mans friend. Been used for years. This guy appears to be using it to seal up a pylon.
SlamClick From United States, joined Nov 2003, 9994 posts, RR: 72 Reply 6, posted (3 years 9 hours ago) and read 4920 times:
I remember this stuff as far back as patching bulletholes in helicopter rotor blades. The trick there was you had to start at the trailing edge, wrap it around the leading edge and back to the trailing edge, covering both entry and exit holes. Then you had to put a piece of tape the same length - and therefore the same weight at the identical station on the opposite blade for balance purposes.
This was only a valid repair for honeycomb construction blades as they should lose no mass and weight when a bullet passes through them.
This is only partly tongue-in-cheek.
I've seen it on many a leading edge on wing or tail. If you wanted to search the photos here it probably shows up in a few wing or tail closeups.
Dougloid From France, joined Jul 2005, 7981 posts, RR: 47 Reply 9, posted (3 years 8 hours ago) and read 4868 times:
When I was working at Douglas there were a few incidents of underwing doors being lost, mostly because the latches were not adjusted properly. When the aircraft was in a high angle of attack with the slats deployed, the negative pressure was enough to suck the door open and rip it off.
After one incident of this type on a Delta MD11, a door was replaced but instead of adjusting it properly the engineer recommended the use of aluminum speed tape to "seal it up" so they could go on another test flight.
Sure enough it sucked that door off as well. What happened the the engineer? Probably got a promotion and a bonus.
If you believe in coincidence, you haven't looked close enough-Joe Leaphorn
EMBQA From United States, joined Oct 2003, 7702 posts, RR: 10 Reply 10, posted (3 years 8 hours ago) and read 4841 times:
Quoting 2H4 (Reply 8): Found some examples in the DB:
In the first picture.. The panel he is protecting has an eroded edge and the tape will protect it from continuing to peel up and also protect it from moisture.. which for composites is a very-very bad thing
On the Airbus A340 it's covering some test wiring. VERY common on flight test aircraft.
On the USAirways 767 my guess would be covering edge composite damage to prevent moisture ingress, a very bad thing...and the tape, a VERY common short term fix.
On the Embraer 170.... Hump Seal Repair..!! The sealant used is dry to the touch, but must be protected to fly. I think the AMM allows 3 or 4 days like that until the tape must be removed.
In my 10 years I've fixed dozens and dozens of aircraft this way... fully legal and right in the FAA approved manuals..!!
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog"
Sfomb67 From United States, joined Dec 2005, 391 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (2 years 12 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 4584 times:
Although the tape in this pix is 600 MPH foil tape. Gray tape known as "duct" tape is "pit" tape when you enter aviation. I still call it pit tape at home, and everyone says "What?"
777 From Italy, joined Sep 2005, 308 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (2 years 12 months 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 4543 times:
Quoting DColeMAN (Reply 12): Looks abit worrying, but if the FAA approve it then it can't be that bad...
Exactly! As far as I know it has been used since 30+ years to do quick repairs waiting for the standard ones...
Quoting SlamClick (Reply 6): I remember this stuff as far back as patching bulletholes in helicopter rotor blades. The trick there was you had to start at the trailing edge, wrap it around the leading edge and back to the trailing edge, covering both entry and exit holes. Then you had to put a piece of tape the same length - and therefore the same weight at the identical station on the opposite blade for balance purposes.
This was only a valid repair for honeycomb construction blades as they should lose no mass and weight when a bullet passes through them.
Hi SlamClick,
I found your contribution quite impressive, but I have a question for you:
since my father has been a Sea King copter pilot for decades, sometime I was used to go with him while he was performing the pre-flight check on the copter.
Each time I was so excited… the best part was when my father asked me to climb whit him to the inspection footboard near the main rotor…
During one of those pre-check I remember that, looking at the join between the main rotor and each blade there was a sort of “pressure indicator” subject to accurate check by the pilot before each flight.
If I remember well (at that time I was only 10-12 years old), he told me that this indicator it’s so important to be checked because, in case of loss of internal pressure due to an hole (for instance), your blade will stall and you will crash… Now I’m quite sure that the blades of the Sea King are made with honeycomb construction, so I’m a bit confused…
Maybe the Sea King has a different system or maybe my memory it’s wrong… what’s your opinion?
Buzz From United States, joined Nov 1999, 691 posts, RR: 20 Reply 18, posted (2 years 12 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 4307 times:
Hi 777, Buzz here. Funny, i was a about 10 or 12 when my Dad was flying SH-3A's ... those Sea King helos. I used to read the NATOPS manuals for fun (Maybe that's how i became plane-crazy?)
I recall that was called the "BIM Blade Indicator", it had black and white stripes if the pressure in the blade was good, all white if it had leaked. So if there was a crack in the blade, the pressure would leak down and somebody would notice before the blade came apart.
Speed Tape... 600 mph tape.... vibration dampening tape: it's useful stuff for covering joints where you've sealed a panel on a cool night - the sealant won't set up when it's less than 50 degrees.
We also have Cargo Pit Tape, which is a heavy duty, flame resistant form of duct tape. You can't tear it with your fingers, have to use a knife. It's not aluminum like Speed tape.
g'day
before that date he was flying SH-34 and AB-204...
Quoting Buzz (Reply 18): I recall that was called the "BIM Blade Indicator", it had black and white stripes if the pressure in the blade was good, all white if it had leaked. So if there was a crack in the blade, the pressure would leak down and somebody would notice before the blade came apart.
Yes, you should press a botton and wait the appearance of the black stripes!
YYZYYT From Canada, joined Apr 2005, 572 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (2 years 12 months 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 4103 times:
Quoting Newark777 (Thread starter): Could anyone explain what exactly is going on in this picture? Is this guy actually duct taping the covering of the engine pylon? Funny picture either way.
NO!
It's a Gremlin... and look, he's tearing the engine duct tape apart!
YYZYYT
PS What do you mean you can't see him? He's right there!
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