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Smoke System Recommendations?
- Thread starter LR60
- Start date
I was lucky enough to get a smoke system helper before the old owner had health issues.
This seems to be a new option in town.
www.smokeonaviation.com
This seems to be a new option in town.
Vans RV Aircraft Smoke System | Smoke On Aviation
The Vans RV 6, 7, 8, 9 and 14 Smoke System is specifically designed for RV aircraft models, ensuring compatibility and reliable performance. This system enhances visibility with a consistent smoke trail, making it ideal for aerobatic displays and airshows. Constructed from durable materials, it...
www.smokeonaviation.com
Smoke System Kits, Smoke Oil, Accessories and Parts
Smoking Airplanes - the world’s best aircraft smoke system kits are trusted by Beechcraft and thousands of pilots worldwide. Easy-to-install and maintain. Shop online for smoke systems, smoke system accessories, injector kits, smoke oil, and parts. We ship worldwide.
smokingairplanes.com
They are in CO. It is a little pricey but everything is set up nicely for easy assembly.
Hello Mark,
We sell all the items you need for a smoke system. A lot of thought has gone into our injectors, as a matter of fact we consider them the best in the market place.
Take a look at our weld on bung style and our strap mounted version.
Ace Aviation Supply
Thanks,
Tim
We sell all the items you need for a smoke system. A lot of thought has gone into our injectors, as a matter of fact we consider them the best in the market place.
Take a look at our weld on bung style and our strap mounted version.
Ace Aviation Supply
Thanks,
Tim
Attachments
I have a 14 specific tank in stock on the shelf ready, can sell you just the tank or the complete system.
www.smokeonaviation.com
Pictures of the 14 tank on the website link above. Tank goes behind either pilot or co-pilot seat, has a flop tube, vent, and gauge.
As far as I know the old supplier is still not shipping things.
Vans RV Aircraft Smoke System | Smoke On Aviation
The Vans RV 6, 7, 8, 9 and 14 Smoke System is specifically designed for RV aircraft models, ensuring compatibility and reliable performance. This system enhances visibility with a consistent smoke trail, making it ideal for aerobatic displays and airshows. Constructed from durable materials, it...
www.smokeonaviation.com
Pictures of the 14 tank on the website link above. Tank goes behind either pilot or co-pilot seat, has a flop tube, vent, and gauge.
As far as I know the old supplier is still not shipping things.
Pilot135pd
Well Known Member
I went looking for some items and prices to place an order but your website seems to need updating. I can only see the nozzles and a prop wrench thing.
LR60
Active Member
Question for you smokers,
Is a solenoid valve recommend? If so do you mount it in the cabin but as close to firewall as possible.
Do you recommend two switches?
One to activate pump (guarded arm switch) and a secondary switch (near throttle) to open/close a solenoid valve?
Or KISS, one switch to activate pump,
TIA
Is a solenoid valve recommend? If so do you mount it in the cabin but as close to firewall as possible.
Do you recommend two switches?
One to activate pump (guarded arm switch) and a secondary switch (near throttle) to open/close a solenoid valve?
Or KISS, one switch to activate pump,
TIA
Pilot135pd
Well Known Member
Same thing. Can't find anything on the website except one full kit and some instructions. Do you sell individual parts?
Pilot135pd
Well Known Member
I did it both ways. First with a single switch turning on the pump, and then later added the solenoid. Unless you're doing formation flights or air shows, the 1/2 second difference didn't make any change for me so the new system I'm making now will be simple without the solenoid.
I placed the check valve close to the firewall inside of the cabin.
I like the KISS, single toggle switch. If you want a way to disarm the system put it on a breaker and pull that. This happens to be how gamebird is made from the factory, simple toggle switch on throttle, breaker to disarm nothing else. I suspect Phillip knows a few things about how to make a smoke system work.
As far as solenoid, our team doesn't use them, we do use check valves mounted about 6" away from the nozzles. The benefit is as mentioned as a team it allows for the precise ON/OFF timing for airshows. If you are just showing your friends how cool we are as RV pilots nobody will notice. On occasion you may get a random puff after a shutoff if excess oil dumps into exhaust, but it will be minimal.
looking for a part number for a solenoid, preferably -6an.
Thanks for checking out our site and for your interest in smoke system components. You’re right—only a few items are currently listed online. We do carry a full range of parts including pumps, fittings, hoses, and tanks that are yet to be reflected on our site. In the meantime, feel free to reach out directly if you’re looking for something specific—we’re happy to help.
Appreciate the feedback and the conversation.
Legitimate curiosity, not passing judgement. Are there upgrades or more robust components in this kit vs the Smoke System Helper? I noticed your kits are $470 more expensive.I have a 14 specific tank in stock on the shelf ready, can sell you just the tank or the complete system.
Vans RV Aircraft Smoke System | Smoke On Aviation
The Vans RV 6, 7, 8, 9 and 14 Smoke System is specifically designed for RV aircraft models, ensuring compatibility and reliable performance. This system enhances visibility with a consistent smoke trail, making it ideal for aerobatic displays and airshows. Constructed from durable materials, it...
Pictures of the 14 tank on the website link above. Tank goes behind either pilot or co-pilot seat, has a flop tube, vent, and gauge.
As far as I know the old supplier is still not shipping things.
Pilot135pd
Well Known Member
And still cheaper than another company that sells kits too. Look at the price of the individual parts and that's where you'll see the differences. A little here and little there. I built a system for around $500 and it worked great. I'm designing another system now, and making my own nozzles, and it'll be even cheaper.
Did you build your plane? If so you can build your own system for less than 1/4 of what a commercial off the shelf system will cost you, or you can pay for their knowledge and experience, and for the convenience of having a kit put all together for you. You know how many people pay Steinair for their harnesses? I'm going to be one of those soon too because after rewiring the entire panel on my last plane, I'm going to let them do this next one. They'll do just as good a job as I did but it's be a lot faster than me doing it. I'll pay for the convenience. That's how it is with everything we buy, not just smoke systems.
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I understand the economics of convenience, but appreciate all of the intel. What I am asking Smoke On to explain is why their kits are $1,375 when Smoke System Helper appears basically the same for $905. I want to know what the difference is between the two kits. For what it is worth, SSH also comes with two injectors.
I’m not interested in piecing together my own system. I’m looking for a refined system with a proven track record and a reasonable price. No, I did not build my -8. I bought it with around 95 hours on the Hobbs about a month ago.
Building a plane is a bucket list thing for me, but it’s just not in the cards right now with 3 kids 7 and under!
We added a flop tube/sealed fill cap, as well as a level gauge would be the 2 main differences.
As I understand it the company you reference has had a couple years of delivery issues so having the ability I started to develop my own kit to first supply members or our formation team and later offer them if people wanted them. Based on cost of components, etc calculated pricing to make it worth my time and effort. If someone else can do it cheaper and deliver kits more power to them.
This all happened for a passion for RV's, Smoke, and making sure a source was available from an RV owner who builds and fly's what he sells. I don't need to rush to the bottom of the pricing level.
We do offer just the tank for those that want to source all the other components.
As a side note I don't know of anybody else that has custom tanks in stock. Right now, I have approx. 30 tanks for RV6,7,8,9 and 14 on the shelf.
+1 for Smoke On system.
The tank is a piece of art, I wish I could weld like that. Jeff even added two angles at the bottom of the tank (no charge) so I could screw the tank down to the forward baggage floor since the forward well is where my fuse panels and Lightspeed are at. The only things added were a quick disconnect hose fitting at the firewall and a quick disconnect power plug so I can easily remove the tank when not needed. Nice having the level gauge to prevent overfilling. Of course I reinforced that forward baggage floor too. The only down side is it took a couple of months to get but it was definitely worth the wait. I am in no way affiliated with Smoke On other than attending their formation clinic last year.
The tank is a piece of art, I wish I could weld like that. Jeff even added two angles at the bottom of the tank (no charge) so I could screw the tank down to the forward baggage floor since the forward well is where my fuse panels and Lightspeed are at. The only things added were a quick disconnect hose fitting at the firewall and a quick disconnect power plug so I can easily remove the tank when not needed. Nice having the level gauge to prevent overfilling. Of course I reinforced that forward baggage floor too. The only down side is it took a couple of months to get but it was definitely worth the wait. I am in no way affiliated with Smoke On other than attending their formation clinic last year.
You should probably order from SSH then....
Makes sense. Thanks! Does your RV8 kit fit in the lower section of the forward baggage compartment?
Yes
I have a 4 into 1 exhaust on my RV8- can I get away with one nozzle or do I need to go upstream with 2 nozzles?
I’m thinking of designing my own system using one of the dozen motorcycle fuel pumps I have laying around. They go in the tank, so the installation could be more compact. I’d like to keep some of my fwd baggage, and my battery is in the lower portion of the fwd baggage.
probably one injector is not gonna be enough. depends how thick you want your smoke. i have the 4-1 on my 8 and i use 2 injectors at the 4 to 1 joint. my exhaust had two 1/8 npt ports so i used those. if you dont have holes already i would go a few inches after the manifold on the straight part of the pipe. make sure to use exhaust 1/3 on one and 2/4 on the other to get less puff effect.
LR60
Active Member
Is an injector in cylinder 1 and 4 ok? Or will this cause puffing issues?
firing order is 1-3-2-4
My exhaust stacks have a joint just downstream of cylinder on 2 and 3 so I did not want to use those cylinders. I could but would have to drop injector further downstream from cylinder
Another option, individual components or full systems customized to your situation:
Jim Baker
RV6
Should be. I have an injector in 3 and 4 and it puts out great smoke. You want to avoid a single injector because you'll get Morse code in the sky.
1 and 4 should work. continued warning that smoke helper is not shipping.. avoid them.
