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Vents (again)

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n7188u

Joined: 15 Nov 2015
Posts: 404

Posted: Thu May 27, 2021 6:36 am Post subject: Vents (again)

Hello dear Europa forum members,



First let me say I hit the 40hrs mark in my monowheel and so far its flying great. I will add though that learning to land the monowheel (in asphalt) has been a huge challenge. I can do perfect landings in gentle conditions but when not so gentle I am still quite apprehensive. But I admit I wasn't an experienced tailwheel pilot to start with and it just took a bit of time to get up to speed on the proper techniques to fly a TW aircraft, set aside the monowheel nuances. But I am getting there and haven't broken anything (yet).



Now to the old subject of vents. First a little rant: Why in the world didn't Europa tell us where to put, in detail, a simple NACA vent? Yes I know, because us Europa builders are "The Few and The Brave"  I intently read Bud Yerly's comments on vents which, as always very educational, but I really don't want to turn the installation of a vent into an experiment and poke 5 holes into my fuselage before I find a proper location for it. End of rant.



Now, I know a lot of people liked the ultimate vent but not sure if the new version is currently available and not sure I want to spend the money for such nice vent (maybe I should). In any case I think that a design for a simple NACA vent, even if not ideal or ultimate, should be available for those of us with no pockets left (or sewn shut by our significant other). 



With that said, can I please get some feedback on those who have NACA vents that work well? I really could use detailed location and design dimensions. I also could use feedback on how you dealt with the thick(er) fuselage sandwich and the scoop LE lip. 



I want to follow Buds advice to not place it in the chord line but higher. A nice place would be right in the fuselage seam line but I think it would interfere with the removal of the cockpit module. Since my interior is already painted (yes, I know, big mistake) I would like to minimize how much I bugger up the interior surface so just making the NACA cutout, carving the foam off the edge, filling with flox and bonding a painted scoop inside with adhesive on its own flanges would be a clean solution. The exterior is still unpainted so no harm messing with that side of the fuselage wall.



Thanks for the help.

Chris

Martin Olliver

Joined: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 35

Posted: Thu May 27, 2021 12:52 pm Post subject: Re: Vents (again)

Hi Chris.

 My thoughts on vents.

 In My first Europa I fitted the

 "Ultimate Ventilator" They worked very well and as the vent opens into the airflow you can fit it where you like within reason. Ultimate Ventilator went out of business.. However Trevor Poulter has produced a far superior product. I would recommend you buy a set. Information on them is on the Europa Club web site.

n7188u

Joined: 15 Nov 2015
Posts: 404

Posted: Thu May 27, 2021 1:21 pm Post subject: Re: Vents (again)

Thanks for the reply.



I would inquire but the Europa Club web site says "Following a successful initial run of 20, a further batch is being considered, subject to interest." so it kind of sounds like it's not available right now. But I haven't really email to ask.



But are NACA scoops really that bad in the Europa? RVs use them and my LongEZ has a tiny one that provides air to the entire cabin. Works really well!



Chris

budyerly@msn.com

Joined: 05 Oct 2019
Posts: 286
Location: Florida USA

Posted: Thu May 27, 2021 5:10 pm Post subject: Vents (again)

Chris,

Two comments:

There is nothing wrong with the NACA duct.  They work well.  The only issue I have is they take room to install properly.  They work great in conjunction with an air deflector or ball shut off, but it is somewhat long and protrudes into the cockpit.  Properly ducted and maintainable, they are great.



The only reason I liked the Ultimate ventilator was it is easy to install and is acceptable for use in the Europa lower windscreen and or side of the aircraft.  Not perfect but it allowed me to have an easy to direct airflow into the cockpit that still sealed when at altitude with minimal effort.



As far as Mono landings/decoupling the flaps and gear:  David Joyce is spot on.  Eric Trombley has a slick setup, but it is not retrofittable easily.  He did much work to make it full proof.  



The mono is unique.  It is not a tail dragger at all.  It is a monocycle with a cheater wheel on the rear.  Think of it as a conventional with stiff gear that are placed six inches apart.

I wrote about my technique.  Like David, I touch tailwheel first.  If you cannot comfortably fly the plane into ground effect and hold it inches above the runway until the speed bleeds off and continue to slow until the tail wheel touches first, the landings can be sporty.  The Europa has honest and light controls that allow the pilot to precisely fly the aircraft in formation with other aircraft and in formation with the runway.  In my opinion, you must learn to slow flight precisely down the runway constantly correcting for the winds and turbulence while holding exact fuselage alignment with precise small rudder inputs until reaching the landing attitude (which is still above the stall I might add) until the nose has raised high enough to allow the plane to settle tail wheel first which will immediately drop the main wheel to the runway.  Don't relax the stick.  Keep the stick back and don't relax until in the chocks.  Wheel landings are not an option.



One must be patient with a fixed pitch prop set IAW the Rotax manual on a 912/914 engine.  There is much float due to residual thrust in the flare with a fixed pitch cruise prop.  This keeps your plane flying much longer than is normal (or tolerable in my opinion).  Much has been discussed on this and some may approach as low as 55Knots.  At 55Knots the plane is behind the power curve and only 10 knots above the stall when loaded.  The sink is quite pronounced unless power is kept on.  Once in the runway proximity, nose high, if the power is cut over a hard surface runway, it is very easy to drop in and if not in exact runway alignment, it can get sporty.  Like many others, I'm comfortable with a 60 KIAS stabilized approach. Your inflight final approach RPM is normally still a high 22-2400 RPM even at idle. I put the nose on the aimpoint and pull a bit of power, if still on, to cross the threshold about 55 IAS and concentrate on maintaining runway alignment.  I maintain a slow flight attitude as close to the runway as possible and retard any power remaining and patiently wait for the float to diminish and try to get a two point landing.  If the main touches first I just keep flying the plane and keeping it straight until it finally settles.  Never relax and keep flying through the rollout.  



A constant speed prop tends to cut out that painfully long float over a hot hard surfaced runway.  The blades flatten and with an idle of about 1600-1800 static and allow a simple throttle retard and a smooth round out to the landing attitude.



A fully finished airplane with a slick paint job has excellent slow flight characteristics so practice.  

Consider setting tire pressure to 16PSI to reduce bounce.  

Grass strips are more forgiving to land on.  Less float and a bit softer bounce if any provided it is a smooth runway.



Enough of my ramblings.  You can read my paper on landing the mono on my website and on the Europa Club website.  .



Bud Yerly



--

n7188u

Joined: 15 Nov 2015
Posts: 404

Posted: Fri May 28, 2021 5:50 am Post subject: Re: Vents (again)

Hi Bud and others,



As always good advice. First let me say that I read your paper about landing the mono in great detail Bud. I did go out and practiced the low and slow flying exercise over the runway. It helped greatly.



When the conditions are calm I am doing better than great. Extremely precise and I am able to land without bounce (tailwheel first) every time. I have learned that, yes, my bounces are directly related to touching down main first.



My level of anxiety is certainly dropping as I get more experience (just frustrated at how long it's taking to get to that point). I do believe that I am OK now and could probably successfully land the mono under almost any conditions without breaking it. But can't help feeling certain level of anxiety when the winds comes up. BTW, talking to extremely experienced TW pilots here, they tell me it is simply that way when you fly taildraggers. They told me they are certainly a little less versatile than tri-gear airplanes when traveling and more planning is required. I have a friend with an TW RV-8 with nearly 4000 hrs in taildraggers and he doesn't fly when it gets too windy or gusty. 



The residual thrust is an issue but I am not going to consider a CS prop until I get more experience. For now I have found a good compromise that gives me plenty of climb power and decent true airspeed (around 115-120).



Overall I am really enjoying the mono. But it does take patience and practice.



Chris

n7188u

Joined: 15 Nov 2015
Posts: 404

Posted: Fri May 28, 2021 6:08 am Post subject: Re: Vents (again)

Back to the vent topic,



I hear you Bud that the NACA scoops sticks inside. The one I have is fairly low profile so not too bad. I will sent an email to inquire about the ultimate vent alternative and see what happens. But summer is catching up to me and the cockpit is starting to get a little hot.



At what height do you recommend installing the NACA vents? You mention not in line with the chord line of the wing. But is it ok right in the middle of the seam line or bellow it?



I mention the following just for the fun factor since I don't consider it very practical but I got a cheap used Arctic Cooler (picture attached) that haven't really tried yet in flight. It works but only if you can get ice that is  Not very practical but fun experiment.

Best Chris

Arctic Cooler 2.jpg

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Feels good :)

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wdaniell.longport(at)gmai
Guest

Posted: Fri May 28, 2021 9:17 am Post subject: Vents (again)

Does the arctic cooler actually work?

Will

William Daniell



LONGPORT



+1 786 878 0246

On Fri, May 28, 2021 at 10:11 AM n7188u <chmgarb(at)gmail.com (chmgarb(at)gmail.com)> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  --> Europa-List message posted by: "n7188u" <chmgarb(at)gmail.com (chmgarb(at)gmail.com)>

 

 Back to the vent topic,

 

 I hear you Bud that the one I have is fairly low profile. I will sent an email to inquire about the ultimate vent alternative and see what happens. But summer is catching up to me and the cockpit is starting to get a little hot (although I have an Arctic Cooler (picture attached) that haven't really tried yet in flight). It works though if you can get ice that is  Not very practical but fun experiment (got it very cheap used).

 

 At what height do you recommend installing it? You mention not in line with the chord line of the wing. But is it ok right in the middle of the seam line or bellow it?

 

 Best Chris

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=502085#502085

 

 

 

 

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 http://forums.matronics.com//files/arctic_cooler_1_124.jpg

 

 

 

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n7188u

Joined: 15 Nov 2015
Posts: 404

Posted: Fri May 28, 2021 10:32 am Post subject: Re: Vents (again)

Will,



It actually does. I tried it out in the sun, it was around 80 something and I locked the canopy. It kept the cockpit at a good temperature for 15 minutes, then the ice was gone.



Keep in mind this is not just blowing air over the ice, it circulates the water in contact with the ice through a coil and then blows the air through the coil. So it doesn't add moisture. But also remember it's not a full blown AC so limited BTU. It did keep the cockpit at a nice fresh temperature. Cool but not cold.



But I am not sure how practical it can be. For local flights sure. The idea is that you only use it on the ground and then turn it off in the air to save ice. But if you go on a breakfast trip, will de ice be there by the time you need it on the way back?



The jury still out. I think it will probably be too much hassle and at some point it doesn't get used but I will try this summer. We all know how hot Florida can be 



We did get a good laugh out of the test. Never had a small airplane with AC so it was funny to be inside getting a blast of cold air!



I will report once I use it a little more.



Chris

erichdtrombley(at)juno.co
Guest

Posted: Sat May 29, 2021 6:06 am Post subject: Vents (again)

Chris,



I installed a NACA vent on the lower cowl on the port side (see picture below).  The NACA feeds a 2” SCAT tube which ties into a plenum that feeds two eye ball vents in the center stack of the instrument panel.  The vents are fully adjustable and work extremely well, even in the hot desert southwest where I live. 



Erich

N28ET

Classic Mono 914



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n7188u

Joined: 15 Nov 2015
Posts: 404

Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 5:51 pm Post subject: Re: Vents (again)

Cool Erich, I see it. However, not very eager to mess with my instrument module now. Too lazy 



I think I am going to try just a couple of NACA on the sides. I measured where to put them to keep them out of the way. I will copy the ones in my LongEZ which work well although those are located on a place where the angle favors them greatly (compared to what it will be in the Europa)



Chris

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