Titanium Firewall

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Tralika
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Titanium Firewall

Post by Tralika »

I fitted the stainless steel firewall that came with my kit prior to covering my plane. In the mean time I saw a titanium firewall that F. Atlee Dodge makes for Cubs. I did some checking and found out that McMaster-Carr has .020 titanium in 24 X 36 sheets for about $150. I spoke to the folks at Atlee Dodge and found out that they use .025 Titanium but they said that .020 was fine for a firewall. According to them, material as thin as .018 is acceptable on certified aircraft. I bought a sheet of titanium from McMaster and just finished fitting it. It is almost 4 pounds lighter than the stainless firewall (3 pounds 12 ounces to be exact). I haven't finished the last cut to fit the top of the firewall to the bottom of the boot cowl so it I may save a few more ounces when I'm done.

So that comes close to $40 a pound. Not cheap but worth it to me. The photo shows the titanium firewall mounted on the plane and the stainless firewall on the floor.
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John Nealon
Wasilla, Alaska
Highlander Extreme #191
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BDA
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Re: Titanium Firewall

Post by BDA »

Nice find!!
I will use that
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
Clark in AZ
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Re: Titanium Firewall

Post by Clark in AZ »

So, educate me on titanium. Does it have better fire resistance than SS? Any other advantages other than being lighter?

Thanks,
Clark

WOW! I just went to McMaster Carr and they don't show the .020 anymore, have .016, .032. The .032 24" x 36" is now $1,066 and the .016 is $975. Plus shipping. Guess this mod it off the table, unless of course I'm looking at the wrong parts.
Building SuperSTOL Kit 512
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mhcrowder
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Re: Titanium Firewall

Post by mhcrowder »

Look for part number 9051K111 on McMaster's website.

==
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Building Highlander #371
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Clark in AZ
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Re: Titanium Firewall

Post by Clark in AZ »

Got it, thanks! That's more reasonable.

Clark
Building SuperSTOL Kit 512
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Tralika
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Re: Titanium Firewall

Post by Tralika »

[quote="Clark in AZ"]So, educate me on titanium. Does it have better fire resistance than SS? Any other advantages other than being lighter?

The melting point of titanium is 3000f, stainless steel about 2700f give or take depending on the alloy. Keep in mind that if you have a significant engine fire in flight it's unlikely the firewall is going to save you. With a fiberglass boot cowl above the firewall, fabric on the sides and below the firewall, a fire is going around the firewall before it ever has a chance to heat up the metal to the melting point. From a practical standpoint we could probably use aluminum get the same protection.
John Nealon
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Highlander Extreme #191
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Clark in AZ
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Re: Titanium Firewall

Post by Clark in AZ »

Thanks for the explanation, that's what I was thinking. I thought maybe there was some other characteristic I was not aware of? However, being lighter weight is a good enough reason!

So, how is your firewall holding up? Would you do it differently, or a different thickness, if you had to do it over?

Thanks for the response!
Clark
Building SuperSTOL Kit 512
Cave Creek, AZ
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Tralika
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Re: Titanium Firewall

Post by Tralika »

I'm happy with the titanium firewall. It was easy to cut and drill during installation. I don't notice any flexing or oil canning, it just lays there nice and flat. The .020 thickness is fine. As I said in the earlier post, they go as thin as .018 in certified aircraft but I don't know if that would save much weight over the .020. I'd defiantly install it again. I haven't figured out what to do with the SS firewall blank that came with the kit though.
John Nealon
Wasilla, Alaska
Highlander Extreme #191
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BucF16
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Re: Titanium Firewall

Post by BucF16 »

Sell it to a KitFox builder. :twisted:
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BDA
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Re: Titanium Firewall

Post by BDA »

I did end up using this.

Great way to cut weight!

Shipping to Alaska was really bad tho, if you are planning to use this in alaska, might plan ahead and find better shipping.

I havent flight tested it yet but noticed it transmits alot more heat when working it than other metals, makes me wonder if it will make it warm in the cabin???
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
Clark in AZ
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Re: Titanium Firewall

Post by Clark in AZ »

BDA wrote:I did end up using this.

Great way to cut weight!

Shipping to Alaska was really bad tho, if you are planning to use this in alaska, might plan ahead and find better shipping.

I havent flight tested it yet but noticed it transmits alot more heat when working it than other metals, makes me wonder if it will make it warm in the cabin???
Good info. What thickness did you go with?

Clark
Building SuperSTOL Kit 512
Cave Creek, AZ
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BDA
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Re: Titanium Firewall

Post by BDA »

I used the .020
Really thin

I should have rolled some beads for stiffness
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
Clark in AZ
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Location: Cave Creek, AZ

Re: Titanium Firewall

Post by Clark in AZ »

Thanks for the response and more info! I'm thinking about going with the .032 just to have a little more stiffness. Not as thick as the stainless .040 but it will still save weight.

Clark
Building SuperSTOL Kit 512
Cave Creek, AZ
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BDA
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Re: Titanium Firewall

Post by BDA »

I chose to use aluminum to cover the belly under the boot cowl, but

If there was a fire, that might be gone pretty quick, was thinking if I had a little more titanium, I could wrap several inches down and under behind the firewall to protect my little pigs.

Had a friend who had a fuel fire at altitude and burned his feet pretty bad before he could get down and ditch in the water.
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
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