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raimo.toivio(at)rwm.fi
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 Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 3:43 am Post subject: Cowling with no access doors |
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| Quote: | 4) Cowlings
- do not make those little oil/water check doors - so you have to take whole upper cowling away and see and check same time much much more (weight penalty none, use cam locks or equal - so it is pleasure to open so often you like - I do it every 5 flight hrs)
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"This is radical, but a good point actually. Although it may invite you
to not bother with checking the water and oil if you are in a hurry to
go home. I know, you should never fall into this trap, but we are all
human and it is temptive to skip checks that take too long if bad
weather is approaching and you need to leave the airport."
Frans,
Oh yes I know I am a little bit radical, criminal and provoking.
A good pilot follow (his) rules always - also when hurry and a storm is coming.
If he has not time enough - he will cancel the planned flight.
A bad pilot does not and the easily openable access doors do not help.
She /he will skipp also them. That is so simple.
One sad example from Finland during last summer: a Piper pilot was hurry and he does not even walk around his plane. Soon after take off he crashed - followed one fatal. Why? There was still hanging a concrete ground weight from his tail wheel. They say he was very experienced old school pilot. Maybe he checked the oil...
IMHO, checking oil (and water) before every flight is an old habit coming from history (and checking oil is still necessary when Lyco/Conti engines). With modern engines like Rotax I think (again IMHO) it is not necessary to check before EVERY flight. I check them only after every 5 hours. That means sometimes once a day but sometimes once a month. Between oil change period it does not loose or burn oil at all - so is water also. If there is a bad leak - it is seenable easily outside the cowlings.
Modern car engines can run 30000 km or more from oil change to oil change and the oil level is always same.
That means about an average let is say 400 hours or more. How often we check water and oil in our cars? Our fathers or granfas checked them every day. It was a must.
It is much more important (again IMHO) to find an evidence of any leaks like exhaust. To check are the carbs still fixed. To correct any loose items. How are all the pipes, wires, hoses and so. That is impossible via access doors.
That is why they are useless. When you have not them, you have to open the upper cowling and you have a good possibility to check more. I am sure that is a good enhancement for safety.
And much more easier and fun if the cowling is easily removable. I have one friend who hasa plane with cowling with hinges and gas pumps to keep it open. He press the button in the cockpit and it is open!
Other benefits when no access doors in the cowling:
1) looks better
2) more streamlined and a bit faster
3) more lightweight and a bit simpler
4 faster to build
5 no risk to loose the access door during flight (that could also be a fatal case - it has happened)
I am sure some of you - not Frans - would like to execute me now. That is normal. Welcome.
Raimo OH-XRT
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fklein(at)orcasonline.com
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| Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:57 am Post subject: Cowling with no access doors |
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On Nov 18, 2009, at 3:42 AM, Raimo Toivio wrote:
| Quote: | And much more easier and fun if the cowling is easily removable. I
have one friend who hasa plane with cowling with hinges and gas
pumps to keep it open.
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Alex Bowman hinges his top cowl...wouldn't have it any other way...
Fred
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raimo.toivio(at)rwm.fi
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| Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 11:16 am Post subject: Cowling with no access doors |
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Fred,
that is beautiful! And cannot see any access doors...look at mine also, attached a pair of pics:
She also with her easily removable access doorless cowling is cute like a virgin, isnīt she? ; ~~ ))
Raimo OH-XRT
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frans(at)paardnatuurlijk.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 3:20 pm Post subject: Cowling with no access doors |
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Raimo Toivio wrote:
| Quote: | A good pilot follow (his) rules always - also when hurry and a storm is coming.
If he has not time enough - he will cancel the planned flight.
A bad pilot does not and the easily openable access doors do not help.
She /he will skipp also them. That is so simple.
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Ok, you are right.
Well, I should have started this topic earlier. I now have these silly
access doors, and should have invested the time to make them instead in
making the entire cowling on a hinge. The latter I can do, but to get
rid of the doors is more difficult... 
Frans
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fklein(at)orcasonline.com
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| Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 3:20 pm Post subject: Cowling with no access doors |
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On Nov 18, 2009, at 11:03 AM, Raimo Toivio wrote:
| Quote: | She also with her easily removable access doorless cowling is cute
like a virgin, isnīt she? ; ~~ ))
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Very cute...and I'm making my cowls from Alex's molds to house my
mighty Subaru which I should have in about 10 days.
I notice your NACA inlet...I've been thinking of doing the same thing
to provide combustion air...the air filter will be just about dead
center below where your inlet is...but I'm scratching my head on how
to construct air box / inlet interface w/ the upper cowl being
removable.
For what purpose is your NACA inlet?
Fred
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raimo.toivio(at)rwm.fi
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| Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:23 am Post subject: Cowling with no access doors |
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Fred,
I assume you mean the inlet which is center of the upper cowling?
That is a standard Europa engine air inlet.
You have not Europa engine kit because your choice is Subaru?
They supply Naca splash mounts with it but obviously they sell them separately.
"but I'm scratching my head on how
to construct air box / inlet interface w/ the upper cowl being
removable."
Find "Europa XS Rotax 912S Engine Manual, issue 2" and look at chapter 8 pages 1-5.
I think you will get a good idea when reading that manual. It is just sealed by rubber lips.
I have always thought that seal is not necessary to be tight.
Hope this helps,
Raimo OH-XRT
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rampil
Joined: 04 May 2007
Posts: 870
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| Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 11:51 am Post subject: Re: Cowling with no access doors |
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No, you don't need to make the transition smooth or tight. The
factory standard is certainly neither.
If, on the other hand you wish to be industrious and make the
air transition a low energy passage which is air tight, you will
gain up 1 inch of additional ram air pressure in the manifold
providing extra power and higher service altitude.
Enjoy,
Ira
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