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  #1  
Old 12-27-2016, 07:16 PM
David-aviator David-aviator is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Chesterfield, Missouri
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Default winter Flying the 8 is Good

Flew twice recently and have the cabin heat situation nailed down good.

The final task was to seal the cabin air at the NACA inlet. Even with the eye ball thingies closed they leak cold air. Thought about a plug of sorts at the inlet but could not figure a way to keep it in place, so just taped the inlet closed with duct tape. Will remove when it warms up. Cabin now stays toasty warm.

Also noticed pulling airplane from hangar was difficult, I was either getting weak or something else was amiss.

Something was amiss - tire pressure.

Cold air really causes air molecules to contract. Even with stop leak tubes, pressure was down to 20 psi both tires.

Inflated to 45, my long time favorite pressure, and all was much better. Airplane came out of hangar easy.

Landing is getting routine, fly it down to 1 inch AGL, relax back pressure a tiny bit and its there. Have not had an embarrassing bounce in a long time, knock on wood.
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Last edited by David-aviator : 12-27-2016 at 07:21 PM.
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  #2  
Old 12-27-2016, 09:29 PM
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MartinACFactory MartinACFactory is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Posts: 98
Default That is a good advice !

Hello David,

Thanks for sharing your solution for cold cockpit in winter time. I am currently building a RV-8 that I will operate in Quebec, Canada, likely during our cold winters. I've heard about the cold cockpit issue for RV-8 pax before. I've been wondering eventually how to solve it.

Based on your experience, once I get to building the wings, I will look into a way to plug the underwing NACA duct for the duration of winter. Do you think that installing a thin cover plate over the NACA duct, and screwed in place with nut plate could be a good solution ? When Spring time flying is back, just unscrew the cover plate to get fresh air in the back seat again ?

Martin
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  #3  
Old 12-27-2016, 11:29 PM
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rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinACFactory View Post
Hello David,

Thanks for sharing your solution for cold cockpit in winter time. I am currently building a RV-8 that I will operate in Quebec, Canada, likely during our cold winters. I've heard about the cold cockpit issue for RV-8 pax before. I've been wondering eventually how to solve it.

Based on your experience, once I get to building the wings, I will look into a way to plug the underwing NACA duct for the duration of winter. Do you think that installing a thin cover plate over the NACA duct, and screwed in place with nut plate could be a good solution ? When Spring time flying is back, just unscrew the cover plate to get fresh air in the back seat again ?

Martin
In instances I have wanted to temporarily plug a vent air NACA duct I have just cut a slightly over sized cyl shape of upholster foam and stuffed it into the tube part of the housing.
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  #4  
Old 12-28-2016, 03:08 AM
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plehrke plehrke is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Defiance, MO
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002 View Post
In instances I have wanted to temporarily plug a vent air NACA duct I have just cut a slightly over sized cyl shape of upholster foam and stuffed it into the tube part of the housing.
Black socks works well. They come in a pair just perfect for my two NACA scoops.
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  #5  
Old 12-28-2016, 06:26 AM
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Saville Saville is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plehrke View Post
Black socks works well. They come in a pair just perfect for my two NACA scoops.
Argyles would work better
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  #6  
Old 12-28-2016, 06:29 AM
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Saville Saville is offline
 
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Location: KBVY Massachusetts
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I like Winter flying myself. Cold clear dense air, neat looking snow-covered ground.

But this year I made it even more supremely convenient with the addition of Rieff heaters and a Switchbox.
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  #7  
Old 12-28-2016, 06:48 AM
David-aviator David-aviator is offline
 
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The Reiff heater is a blessing, keep it pluggged in 24/7.

With regard to under wing plate nuts to attach NACA cover, sure that is good idea and will work.
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  #8  
Old 12-28-2016, 07:12 AM
elev666 elev666 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Kincardine Ont,Can
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Unhappy 24/7 ??

Today 08:48 AM
David-aviator The Reiff heater is a blessing, keep it pluggged in 24/7.

I would do some research on keeping that new pre-heater powered up 7 days a week , I understand it makes your crank case a sauna of sorts ! Since warm air holds so much more moisture , I sat threw a Engine maintenance seminar this past summer put on by continental motors and this topic was covered, don't do it !!
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  #9  
Old 12-28-2016, 10:24 AM
David-aviator David-aviator is offline
 
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Location: Chesterfield, Missouri
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elev666 View Post
Today 08:48 AM
David-aviator The Reiff heater is a blessing, keep it pluggged in 24/7.

I would do some research on keeping that new pre-heater powered up 7 days a week , I understand it makes your crank case a sauna of sorts ! Since warm air holds so much more moisture , I sat threw a Engine maintenance seminar this past summer put on by continental motors and this topic was covered, don't do it !!
Yes, I suppose it would be like summertime in Florida.
I don't think there is enough time for corrosion to set in between flights and do not loose sleep over it.
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  #10  
Old 12-28-2016, 10:36 AM
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Saville Saville is offline
 
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The only difficulty with Winter flying is that it's sometimes hard to get the oil temps up over 180 - even with a Winter oil cooler baffle plate and vernatherm. 140 is no problem.
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