21 & 22 Dec 2024

Installed fuel pumps and some new aluminium hard fuel line to replace the PTFE item due to space restrictions. The older 915 style firewall with 916 fuel pumps is slightly cramped in the default pump position due to the size of the new pumps and the related fuel lines. I decided to avoid drilling new holes in the firewall to move the pumps to a vertical position underneath the battery since that would also have required relocating a solenoid, so I would have been left with seven holes to plug. The Sling KAI does show the pumps installed as I've done it on one of the pages. I checked clearance of the lower fuel line against the steering pushrods. Sling technical says the maximum nose gear suspension deflection is 40mm, I have 75mm available so there is safe clearance.

Sling no longer supplied the CA-PLT-001 spacers for the door locks / latches. This is an issue since without them the handles are a loose fit in the canopy. I fabricated two out of leftover CF-RIB-005, painted black and then fitted with M5 35mm bolts trimmed to 33mm. This works really well and the handles are nice and secure. I removed the lock bases previously fitted, cleaned them up and reinstalled with some automotive silicone sealant around the outer edges to keep them waterproof.