Not long ago, I was helping with the annual inspection on a Vultee BT-13 Valiant. It's a World War Two era primary trainer.
As I'm walking around, lubricating pulleys with my trusty can of LPS2, something catches my eye.
It's in a bracket, bolted to the firewall. Inside is about an inch of white powder.
To be clear, this is not "Tony Montana" brand white powder. I know somebody out there was thinking it.
It's a mason jar, specifically one made by Ball Corporation.
Even to this day, this type of jar can be found in your local grocery store.
There's a hose leading from the cap to the battery box. The powder is baking powder used to neutralize battery acid.
I learn from a mechanic smarter than me that was how the airplane left the factory during the World War 2.
It was designed with a ball jar from a grocery store as a part of the battery venting system.
I laugh. I find it entertaining, but also I admire the brilliance of how simple, yet effective the solution is.
I even searched my AirCorps Library account and found a scan of the Vultee Print that specs out a mason jar.
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| The Callout for the Mason Jar |
It was indeed called out from the factory!
A mason jar! A humble mason jar!.
Is it inexpensive? Yes.
Is it easy to source? Yes.
Is it easy to maintain? Yes.
Is it resistant to battery acid?
Yes.
You could literally go to your pantry, rinse the contents out of the jar, and repair the airplane.
But it's a lesson for all of us designer types.
Keep it simple. And one doesn't get much more simple than that.
While there are times we need to spec out the "unobtanium fraffernator with chrome plated galloping rod adjusters", there are other times something as simple as the jar in your pantry will do just as good a job.