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What did you do with your RV this weekend? (1/4-5/2020)
Getting it rolling....
v/r,dr |
Little Siberia
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I modified my air intake
Ok, so it's not earth shattering, or even sexy in any way, but I've been slowly modifying my intake to get the best performance, which I measure by air intake temperature and by manifold pressure.
What I did this weekend was put a scoop (cut and folded 0.032" scrap I had on hand) over my intake. No, it's not as aerodynamic as it could be or even aesthetically pleasing, but gets the job done. The idea was to validate for myself the difference between a NACA duct and scoop. I can tell you the scoop makes a huge difference. ![]() ![]() I've gone from the original factory "Two inch filter mounted on the intake" to one taking air in over the cylinders, to a 2" NACA duct, and then a 3" NACA duct, to my current, and likely final design, which is the scoop over the NACA duct. The end result is about 0.8" of ram pressure at 120KTAS. Performance has been wonderful too. ![]() |
Still chipping away at the cowling and baffles. Started trimming baffles; getting closer... but I just don't see how RV-8 builders manage to get their oil cooler to fit in the stock position. If any -8 builders want to share photos of their finished baffles on the left side by the oil cooler, or if there are any -8 builders within 100 miles of Clarkston, MI that would be willing to allow me to inspect their cowlings and baffles, I'd be very grateful. (Hopefully Terry Lutz is reading this; then we'd finally get a chance to meet up! ;) )
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Took advantage of some warm(ish) weather and flew out over the Apostle Islands
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Nice evening in Alabama, so I got in some formation practice. Quick over the shoulder shot from Stan Tew, passenger in Kirk Harrell's Mustang II:
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Met up with a fellow VAF'er and sold him my iFly 740b. Gawked at his RV-10 (I wouldn't mind one), and then met up with my wife to take her in our -9A. Flew her down the San Diego Bay, and then back the other way, and stopped at Montgomery Field (MYF) for lunch, and then back home and into the hangar...
Gave a BFR to a non-RV'er in his Piper Warrior later in the day. It's so ... uninspiring. Do I dare give him an RV ride and see how long that it takes to convert him?! :cool: |
I noticed the brake pads getting a little thin during the condition inspection (450 hours), 2nd flight after the condition inspection my main alternator voltage was venturing above 15 volts. She needed a little more love.
I do not like to rush my aircraft maintenance, it's about balancing research during lunch breaks at work and ordering parts to coincide with free time to put things together at the airport. I ordered new pads, brake rivet tool and regulator. Thanks to Allen at Hartzell Engine Technologies for listening and answering my questions about my PP Alt. Smushed gasket vs new. ![]() ![]() Old regulator/brushes vs new. ![]() I broke the wiring connector to the Alt when removing it, re-potted the wires with RTV. My original connector was potted with RTV before first flight and did not show fretting after 450 hours. ![]() Old Pads removed. ![]() New Pads installed. ![]() ![]() Test flight a day later showed a happy alternator (and happy pilot) at 14ish volts and some STINKY brake pads from the recommended break in procedure. |
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![]() I used 1" U channel on either side of the oil cooler and shifted it down a little to get clearance from the cowl. The extra spacing from the #4 cylinder and the U channel added to the angle I added to the front of the baffle corner makes it very strong. Oil stays cool too (sometimes too cool) |
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