Firewall

My mistake! I meant to say 0.016 not 0.16. That would be a hefty chunk of
metal!
Tony Bengilis in "Firewall Forward" talks about the 2024-T3/Fiberfrax
combination as being a consideration for a firewall. The fiberfrax is what
provides the fire barrier as it withstands tremendous heat.
Anyway I'm looking to do the best thing, not the cheapest or necessarily the
lightest, although light would be nice.
Any more advice?
Thanks!
David

The aluminum over the fiberfrax is not intended to be a fire barrier. The
fiberfrax is the fire barrier and prevents the plywood behind from even
charring. The aluminum is a mechanical protection to prevent solvent and
mechanical damage to the fire protecting fiberfrax. If you have a fire
severe enough to melt the aluminum, then entire engine compartment will have
to be redone anyway.

--
Cy Galley
Editor, EAA Safety Programs
or


"Flyhighdave" wrote in message
...
My mistake! I meant to say 0.016 not 0.16. That would be a hefty chunk of
metal!
Tony Bengilis in "Firewall Forward" talks about the 2024-T3/Fiberfrax
combination as being a consideration for a firewall. The fiberfrax is what
provides the fire barrier as it withstands tremendous heat.
Anyway I'm looking to do the best thing, not the cheapest or necessarily
the
lightest, although light would be nice.
Any more advice?
Thanks!
David

(Flyhighdave) wrote:

My mistake! I meant to say 0.016 not 0.16. That would be a hefty chunk of
metal!
Tony Bengilis in "Firewall Forward" talks about the 2024-T3/Fiberfrax
combination as being a consideration for a firewall. The fiberfrax is what
provides the fire barrier as it withstands tremendous heat.
Anyway I'm looking to do the best thing, not the cheapest or necessarily the
lightest, although light would be nice.
Any more advice?
Thanks!
David

The original Vari-eze and Long-EZ plans called for a
stainless/asbestos/plywood firewall. In 1980 the Rutan Aircraft
Factory approved an aluminum/Fiberfrax/plywood substitution. The RAF
newsletter said, "Fiberfrax is as good a fire barrier as stainless
steel." Most builders switched to the aluminum/Fiberfrax/plywood
firewall.

As for in-flight fires, the NTSB database (1982 to present) has 46
homebuilt aircraft accidents with an occurrence code of "fire" or
"fire/explosion". Half of those were in-flight fires while most of
the others were fires after impact.

"Highest Injury" breakdown for the in-flight fire accidents:

None: 8
Minor: 2
Serious: 5
Fatal: 8

David O -- http://www.AirplaneZone.com