Vans RV-7 Smoke System - JUST FUN

by FliteTest | March 26, 2014 | (29) Posted in Just Fun

 

We head back to Furey Field to talk to the man himself, John Furey, about his full scale smoke system. 

The smoke system on his Vans RV-7 may be much bigger than any you'll see on a RC plane, but they work exactly the same. 

The main components are:

  • Tank 
  • Pump 
  • Injectors 

There are many different types of oil that are used. This is mostly based on what a pilot has access to. This smoke system runs on recycled transmission fluid. 

Valves on the pump determine how much oil is taken to the exhaust stack which in turn determines the thickness and quality of the smoke.

Once the oil is in the exhaust stack it is heated, turned into smoke, and expelled through the exhaust pipes.  

John was kind enough to give us a demonstration! Check out the episode to see him in action!

We owe a HUUUGGGEEE thank you again to John Furey for letting us invade his hanger and for showing us the inner workings of his smoke system. 

And also a HUUGGEEE thank you to YOU! You guys make these episodes possible through your support and we appreciate each and every one of you. 

 

Want to see more full scale? Let us know! Chat it up in the forums!

- Find this article & others like it at www.FliteTest.com -

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COMMENTS

Yogenh on March 26, 2014
I like it and it looks like you had a lot of fun

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maximaal on March 26, 2014
great video
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Zwoobz on March 26, 2014
Great episode! I would love to see some videos on your Pietenpol! :D
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tramsgar on March 26, 2014
Good stuff, looking forward to your ultra compact smoke system design =).
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FKreider on March 26, 2014
Fantastic! I love full scale just as much as RC! I would love to see more full scale from you guys!! Awesome episode!
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Flynn on March 26, 2014
That was very interesting! I'd watch more full scale content. Thanks FT. Thanks Mr. Furey
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earthsciteach on March 26, 2014
Beautiful RV-7! Love the full scale vids. I've been hoping for a video on the Air Camper for a couple of years.
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Paulshort on March 26, 2014
ID like to see u build a plane whith a rubiks cube solver in side of it and solve a rubiks cube in mid air
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airdustin on March 26, 2014
Loved the episode guys. One of my earliest flights as a kid before I ever did full scale flight training was with my grandfather in his RV 4. Beautiful airplane Mr. Furey! Thrilled you were willing to allow the flite test guys strap gear to your plane. I'm guessing that David was getting some aerial footage from the tricopter?... Very cool touch. Very flite test. Nice job!
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canuck on March 26, 2014
Nice to see you covering the RV-7. Built a 7A with my brother. and an RV-4 for myself. Great aircraft and a wonderful episode.
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sean.mccurdy9 on March 27, 2014
SMOKE ON AN ELECTRIC!!!!!!
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RotateB4TheEnd on March 27, 2014
What a cool episode! I rode in an RV-7A not too long ago and the pilot flew some formation. It was an amazing experience!

Thanks Mr. Furey! Hopefully the FT crew will have more opportunities like this in the future.
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emaxx on March 27, 2014
I really like the extra episodes with full scale flying! Beautiful plane : ) You also should do one episode on the full scale plane Josh is building - love to see that too! And once again: So looking forward to meet you guys in Switzerland : )
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Wes Vasher on March 27, 2014
Great episode!
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jhitesma on March 27, 2014
Only complaint is that it was too short :D Would love more full scale. I'd love to see more about that RV as well, I've been dreaming of building a Van's since I first learned of them.
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nasaguy86 on March 27, 2014
Flying with Mr. Furey - learning basics, from the cockpit - Brilliant!

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larz001 on March 27, 2014
I've been trying to build a smoke system for electric for about 3 years and have almost burned the shop down a dozen times, I tried pumping smoke oil thru a heated niacrome coil in a tube with airflow on one side and there was a spectacular fire ball, lol,,i hope someone can figure it out, smoke on electric will be awesome
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iflyfoam2112 on March 28, 2014
i have been thinking about this alot lately. I am leaning toward pumping oil through a heated tube with a very small inside diameter rather than a heated coil within a tube. Perhaps a very thin copper or brass tube that is wrapped in a nichrome coil? I think the fireballs can be eliminated by not spraying flammable liquid directly on a glowing element. I have not tried any of this in real life, just in my head at the moment. My other thought was a modified E-Cigarette. The E-Cig route is probably a better option because it is already a tiny smoke machine. I do not know, but I am looking forward to this thread taking off. Please don't let this discussion die. Together we can conquer this!!
Be well all
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larz001 on March 28, 2014
I like that idea, I don't know why I didn't try that, I have a bunch of k&s brass and copper in almost every size, and have about 40' of niacrome wire from an old space heater, I will try this idea and see how it works
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iflyfoam2112 on March 28, 2014
I was just on my commute home and two ideas popped into my head. A mini butane soldering iron might do the trick for heating the coil and a pump from a small battery operated squirt gun could be a cheap way to flow the smoke fluid of choice. Now to start bench testing. Does anyone own a butane soldering iron? If so, what's the size and weight like?
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Nicklas on March 29, 2014
It's sad to see that these chemicals in transmission fluid are spread out in the nature. It will fall down on fields and people will get it in the food.Luckily I don't live nearby. Look at: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=755&tid=141
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Moneymakerspy on June 9, 2015
Dear Mr. Niklas, The recycled Transmission fluid is vaporized by the planes exhaust manifold and the only byproduct is a small amount of Carbon emmissions which is better than the alternative practiced by many DIY engine maintenance mechanics who pour it down the nearest sewer drain or dump it in the field across the street from their homes. If you dont have an airplane to use the fluid for smoke shows, the proper way to recycle it would be at your local used oil drop off - usually a nearby service station. From there it goes to a refining plant or into a bio-fuel car/truck. In the end it all gets burned, my vote is to make smoke from air planes! Please don't rain on our Flite Test Parade, this community does more good for the world than your pessimistic comments which offer no better alternative solution and serve no useful purpose except for paranoid fear mongering. Stop hating and join the fun Nikky boy, you'll live longer and people will like you. Try a Flite Test trainer plane like the Flyer, or better yet, the Nutball, should be perfect for ya! Good Luck!
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rotorcrazy on March 29, 2014
Great video guys! I love seeing full scale incorporated into your episodes. I'm building an RV-4 alongside many RC model airplanes, helicopters and now multirotors. It's tough to decide what to work on really. Would love to see more full scale in future episodes, perhaps something on Josh's Pietenpol project and a bit of a brief history of the design. I was into RC for years before I learned about the homebuilt aircraft community, never realized people built full size airplanes (I never say "real", because RC models are real airplanes!!!) in their garages and basements. Both RC and homebuilding are a way to feed my passion for aviation, which has led me to earn my ppl along the way.
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CessnaPilot on April 16, 2014
The guy from Arkansas the guy was talking about is my dad.
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Vans RV-7 Smoke System - JUST FUN