Love what you're doing on your channel with Cirrus. I am an aspiring pilot and looking forward to the day of my discovery flight, private pilot license, IFR, and vision jet type rating.
Great clip regarding TKS information brother man... Thanks for being so specific on the little things surrounding basic care and maintenance on personal aircraft. Would love to meet up with you at some point and do some flying and vlogging.
Any time! This would be awesome to do at some point. Would enjoy it. Appreciate you comments and feed back. I feel like the aviation community is in this together and we all have amazing tips and tricks to share. Its helpful and fun to share!
Great videos and great ideas. I had one FBO that recently topped off my TKS tanks with a 50-gallon barrel that was on wheels and had a pump and hose on the barrel. They pulled it with a little tractor although I bet you could pull with some sort of big-wheeled wagon or tug. This would eliminate the hassle of transferring TKS from one tank to another. I am a new IFR pilot with a 2016 SR22T FIKI system. I had a chance for the first time to fly through the ice recently which was a little nerve-racking. The icing system worked perfectly and I was able to move to another altitude to get out of most of it. It sounds like you fly in ice a lot if you are using 50 gallons or more of TKS a season. I would like to see you do a video on how you manage an icing situation. How you make decisions to go or no go, when encountering ice the decision-making process to stay, go up, down, or turn, and how you manage your FIKI system in icing or prior to icing situations. Could this be a possible future video you could do?
Hi Roger, this is awesome. Congrats on your IFR. The 2016 Cirrus you are flying is outstanding! Nice! Thank you for you suggestions on the videos. There is definitely a lot of ice here in the Chicago area. Great idea on making a video on the icing and how to approach it. There are lots of different ways I tackle it! Thank you for the suggestion!
Fascinating insight. So in essence a 210L drum, which needs to be vehicle mounted ideally an then a 12v supply so you can pump it straight into the aircraft? Would be interesting if the hose could be adapted also to provide ground de icing?
I buy 55 gallon drums of TKS (use about 20 gallons a year). One source for it: www.skygeek.com/tks-deicing-fluid.html I use a Vestil drum pump I got on discount: bityl.co/4eaj (four pulls brings up a gallon, no battery or power needed) I use two handle transparent 5 gallon Speedway racing fuels container with flex spout and the Wirthco funnel: bityl.co/4fK2 A 6-qt Wirthco funnel with filter screen is used to make sure no TKS splashes or misses: amz.run/43mj When filling the FIKI tanks on the plane first check the panel for the amount in the tank (R/L). Then draw the amount needed to top the target tank. That way you don't have to guess and overfill and spill it. Also, never run the FIKI system on the ground as it makes a major mess AND it does not fully saturate the system.
next time im in Chicago, im totally going to stop at Hawthorne, those couches look comfy. if your ever in Atlanta, let me know, I know all the good spots to eat, and best fbo's
Please do! Hawthorne is a great place! There is one at RYY as well in your neck of the woods. Excited to learn more about good spots to eat from you in ATL when I am in town - thank you for the offer.
@@al.waterloo yeah, maybe when I'm finally able to afford a plane, I'll reach out to you. I've never been in a cirrus, but your videos make them look way better than the 60's cherokees i fly
Buying in a bulk drum is less expensive but when using secondary containers for any product including TKS fluid, such as spray bottles, caddy and gallon jugs, you need to label them. I'm certain the hangar has a master MSDS binder or online version for all chemicals in the hangar. I'm surprised the hangar doesn't require a secondary containment system under the drum. I'm not in the aircraft industry but my organization requires all the above.
Hi Scott. This is excellent advice and thinking here. The hangar does have a containment system. I need to get better at the labling though. Your comment had me ping the FBO just to make sure we have it figured out. They actually put the proper labels on.
@@al.waterloo Glad I can help. Another comment I have is taking the garden sprayer with you on a flight, my concern is if it leaks. The container itself isn't going to puncher but if the screw on top comes loose or if the hand held spray nozzle leaks, creates a siphon and drains the garden sprayer then you can have potential problem in the air. Also, does the FAA regulate TKS fluid to a max of 8 gallon usable capacity? If so, and your plane is already storing 8 gallons in the TKS tanks then your exceeding the allowable amount in flight by taking a full garden sprayer with you. I still think the garden sprayer is a great idea but only from your departing home airport and left behind. I could also be entirely wrong on this one.
That was my thought. 55 gallon drum on wheels or a dolly, rolled out to the plane. What are James and I missing? Good video though. Anxious to see part 2 !!
Great thought and this would totally be my preference. In part 2 I talk about why I need the middle caddy. About 40% of the time the FBO has my plane on the ramp well before I get to the airport to preflight. There isn't a way I can roll the drum on the dolly over the hangar tracks etc. I need a little caddy/wagon to roll to the plane in those situations. The airplane might be outside 50 yards away from the hangar. I need to rethink the wagon and caddy though!
This is a great thought. Coming up in Part 2 I talk about why I need the caddy in some situations. My preference is to not have it but some situations my plane is already outside far from the hangar.
I think you’re going to struggle with the gas can. It’s really designed for gravity feed and I think you’ll be disappointed with the volume of fluid you can pump with the handle. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I do enjoy your videos.
Thank you Jim! I agree! Thank you for helping me get in front of this. Fluid dynamics is not my strong spot...haha. My dad was telling me my hand would get tired and not even pump a half of a gallon and will be mad!
@@al.waterloo I'm guessing this was probably answered somewhere, but why not use the electric pump directly from the drum (why the two step process)? PS. I'd rather have your piloting knowledge than my innocuous knowledge of the gas caddy. Hope you had a great thanksgiving!
Great TKS video Al! Lots of interesting information! (I've edited this comment a couple of times to try to make it a bit easier to implement.) I was just looking at your Scepter/Duramax and like some of the other comments, I'm concerned about pumping the TKS up into the wing tank. I found this small (3.3 GPM) inline pump: www.amazon.com/SEAFLO-110V-Water-Diaphragm-Pressure/dp/B075V9RBYR/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=rv+water+pump+110+volt&qid=1606768047&sr=8-8 I believe you could include it in your system and a switch to make the pumping a snap! It seems like such a system would even be a take along item giving you ample TKS!
Al, you may want to learn how to keep your hands still when you're taping. You may want to wave them more sparingly, and then only to emphasis a point. Great content, keep up the good work (hands free).
A TKS technical vid with suspense! Who would have thought?
I am in suspense of it as well! Haha. Thanks watching!
Love what you're doing on your channel with Cirrus. I am an aspiring pilot and looking forward to the day of my discovery flight, private pilot license, IFR, and vision jet type rating.
Great clip regarding TKS information brother man... Thanks for being so specific on the little things surrounding basic care and maintenance on personal aircraft. Would love to meet up with you at some point and do some flying and vlogging.
Any time! This would be awesome to do at some point. Would enjoy it. Appreciate you comments and feed back. I feel like the aviation community is in this together and we all have amazing tips and tricks to share. Its helpful and fun to share!
Great videos and great ideas. I had one FBO that recently topped off my TKS tanks with a 50-gallon barrel that was on wheels and had a pump and hose on the barrel. They pulled it with a little tractor although I bet you could pull with some sort of big-wheeled wagon or tug. This would eliminate the hassle of transferring TKS from one tank to another. I am a new IFR pilot with a 2016 SR22T FIKI system. I had a chance for the first time to fly through the ice recently which was a little nerve-racking. The icing system worked perfectly and I was able to move to another altitude to get out of most of it. It sounds like you fly in ice a lot if you are using 50 gallons or more of TKS a season. I would like to see you do a video on how you manage an icing situation. How you make decisions to go or no go, when encountering ice the decision-making process to stay, go up, down, or turn, and how you manage your FIKI system in icing or prior to icing situations. Could this be a possible future video you could do?
Hi Roger, this is awesome. Congrats on your IFR. The 2016 Cirrus you are flying is outstanding! Nice! Thank you for you suggestions on the videos. There is definitely a lot of ice here in the Chicago area. Great idea on making a video on the icing and how to approach it. There are lots of different ways I tackle it! Thank you for the suggestion!
Fascinating insight. So in essence a 210L drum, which needs to be vehicle mounted ideally an then a 12v supply so you can pump it straight into the aircraft? Would be interesting if the hose could be adapted also to provide ground de icing?
I buy 55 gallon drums of TKS (use about 20 gallons a year). One source for it: www.skygeek.com/tks-deicing-fluid.html
I use a Vestil drum pump I got on discount: bityl.co/4eaj (four pulls brings up a gallon, no battery or power needed)
I use two handle transparent 5 gallon Speedway racing fuels container with flex spout and the Wirthco funnel: bityl.co/4fK2
A 6-qt Wirthco funnel with filter screen is used to make sure no TKS splashes or misses: amz.run/43mj
When filling the FIKI tanks on the plane first check the panel for the amount in the tank (R/L). Then draw the amount needed to top the target tank. That way you don't have to guess and overfill and spill it. Also, never run the FIKI system on the ground as it makes a major mess AND it does not fully saturate the system.
next time im in Chicago, im totally going to stop at Hawthorne, those couches look comfy. if your ever in Atlanta, let me know, I know all the good spots to eat, and best fbo's
Please do! Hawthorne is a great place! There is one at RYY as well in your neck of the woods. Excited to learn more about good spots to eat from you in ATL when I am in town - thank you for the offer.
@@al.waterloo yeah, maybe when I'm finally able to afford a plane, I'll reach out to you. I've never been in a cirrus, but your videos make them look way better than the 60's cherokees i fly
What do you think of the new super hydrophobic coatings/ surface etchings that stop ice formation?
I don't think those are approved or endorsed by Cirrus.
Al - G5 driver here...what is the wash/wax detailer you use and do you have any issues re: clogging the TKS pores?
I only use water on the TKS panels. Never use wax on them just like you were mentioning. Water does very well on them.
Buying in a bulk drum is less expensive but when using secondary containers for any product including TKS fluid, such as spray bottles, caddy and gallon jugs, you need to label them. I'm certain the hangar has a master MSDS binder or online version for all chemicals in the hangar. I'm surprised the hangar doesn't require a secondary containment system under the drum. I'm not in the aircraft industry but my organization requires all the above.
Hi Scott. This is excellent advice and thinking here. The hangar does have a containment system. I need to get better at the labling though. Your comment had me ping the FBO just to make sure we have it figured out. They actually put the proper labels on.
@@al.waterloo Glad I can help.
Another comment I have is taking the garden sprayer with you on a flight, my concern is if it leaks. The container itself isn't going to puncher but if the screw on top comes loose or if the hand held spray nozzle leaks, creates a siphon and drains the garden sprayer then you can have potential problem in the air.
Also, does the FAA regulate TKS fluid to a max of 8 gallon usable capacity? If so, and your plane is already storing 8 gallons in the TKS tanks then your exceeding the allowable amount in flight by taking a full garden sprayer with you. I still think the garden sprayer is a great idea but only from your departing home airport and left behind.
I could also be entirely wrong on this one.
Any way to get the nozzle from the 55gal drum with electric motor not the plane directly? Maybe add extra tubing to make it longer? No middle man.
That was my thought. 55 gallon drum on wheels or a dolly, rolled out to the plane. What are James and I missing? Good video though. Anxious to see part 2 !!
@@f-16guy30 That’s exactly what I do. Perfect.
Great thought and this would totally be my preference. In part 2 I talk about why I need the middle caddy. About 40% of the time the FBO has my plane on the ramp well before I get to the airport to preflight. There isn't a way I can roll the drum on the dolly over the hangar tracks etc. I need a little caddy/wagon to roll to the plane in those situations. The airplane might be outside 50 yards away from the hangar. I need to rethink the wagon and caddy though!
This is a great thought. Coming up in Part 2 I talk about why I need the caddy in some situations. My preference is to not have it but some situations my plane is already outside far from the hangar.
@@al.waterloo I figured there had to be more to the story !!
Love your videos
Thank you Matt! Glad you enjoy them.
I think you’re going to struggle with the gas can. It’s really designed for gravity feed and I think you’ll be disappointed with the volume of fluid you can pump with the handle. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I do enjoy your videos.
Thank you Jim! I agree! Thank you for helping me get in front of this. Fluid dynamics is not my strong spot...haha. My dad was telling me my hand would get tired and not even pump a half of a gallon and will be mad!
@@al.waterloo I'm guessing this was probably answered somewhere, but why not use the electric pump directly from the drum (why the two step process)? PS. I'd rather have your piloting knowledge than my innocuous knowledge of the gas caddy. Hope you had a great thanksgiving!
Great TKS video Al! Lots of interesting information! (I've edited this comment a couple of times to try to make it a bit easier to implement.) I was just looking at your Scepter/Duramax and like some of the other comments, I'm concerned about pumping the TKS up into the wing tank. I found this small (3.3 GPM) inline pump:
www.amazon.com/SEAFLO-110V-Water-Diaphragm-Pressure/dp/B075V9RBYR/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=rv+water+pump+110+volt&qid=1606768047&sr=8-8
I believe you could include it in your system and a switch to make the pumping a snap! It seems like such a system would even be a take along item giving you ample TKS!
Thank you for all these tips and checks! Appreciate your input to help make this successful!
To the plane directly
Al, you may want to learn how to keep your hands still when you're taping. You may want to wave them more sparingly, and then only to emphasis a point. Great content, keep up the good work (hands free).
Luckily I skipped through your video. This isn't rocket science so try shortening your video to a minute and just get to your point.