New Airflow Performance servo for the EXP119

[RVJoe14a]

The picture of the new snorkel in the RV-15 presentation with the bolt on flange seems to be an improvement over how the snorkel is done in OP 62. On several occasions, I've found that the snorkel has worked itself loose. It's now SOP for me to check it every time the cowl is off.

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by RVJoe14a

The picture of the new snorkel in the RV-15 presentation with the bolt on flange seems to be an improvement over how the snorkel is done in OP 62. On several occasions, I've found that the snorkel has worked itself loose. It's now SOP for me to check it every time the cowl is off.

Consider having a dynamic prop. balance done if you haven’t already.
The company demonstrator now has 2+ years of flying with this system and this has never been an issue.

[czechsix]

Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002

The company demonstrator now has 2+ years of flying with this system and this has never been an issue.

Scott, regarding the slide shown earlier in this thread from Van's presentation at OSH, do you know if the 'New throttle body Airflow Performance & Lycoming' (with 'lower cost' and 'slight increase in manifold pressure') and image of a throttle body/snorkel with a flange is only for the RV-15? Or are these changes applicable to the 14 as well? If there's never been an issue with the hose clamp attachment method I'm curious why the change to the flange mount using four bolts, which is more complicated to fabricate?

Thanks,

[czechsix]

I listened to Van's Oshkosh presentation on Brantel's video and it sounds like the new throttle body and snorkel are applicable to the IO-390 in general and not only the RV-15...so presumably the new engines & FWF kits will ship with the bolted flange mount between throttle body and snorkel, and no more hose clamp. Van's says this throttle body is cheaper...the bolted flange on the front looks more expensive to manufacture than the simple round front with hose clamp attachment for the snorkel, so it's counterintuitive how this one is saving money, but it sounds good to me.

A couple other interesting takeaways from the presentation:

- a new flap motor with faster operation and integrated position sensor was mentioned, it sounded like it would be applicable to all RV models but looking at Van's website I only see it showing up for the RV-10 specifically.

- new 2-blade Hartzell composite prop is available, it weighs 37.9 lbs and they said this lighter weight 'will eventually be an advantage' but for now keep in mind W&B aspects since the 14 was designed around the metal Hartzell prop which is ~20 lbs heavier. Wonder if they will make any adjustments like new cowl/engine mount that moves the engine/prop forward an inch or two...seems like that is what would really be needed to take advantage of the lighter weight without any CG concerns. I don't see pricing for it on Van's website yet, if it's $20K then I won't be buying it anyway...

[Walt]

The FM150 has the bolt flange while the FM200 has the clamp, that is unless AFP is coming out with a new FM200 with a bolt flange mount?

[czechsix]

Originally Posted by Walt

The FM150 has the bolt flange while the FM200 has the clamp, that is unless AFP is coming out with a new FM200 with a bolt flange mount?

Not sure, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO1pKlyPqvk at 48:23. The audio (as best as I can transcribe it) says “We were looking for ways to help Lycoming curtail costs. This is a new throttle body from Airflow Performance. It’s slightly larger than the throttle body that’s in existence now and as a result [has] a slight increase in manifold pressure. Speed gain is not much but it is making increased performance and this is what we’ll be supplying on Lycoming engines moving forward.”

Looking again at the slide it doesn’t specify any engine model(s)…maybe what they’re doing here is moving away completely from the default Bendix style (aka Avstar aka Silverhawk) on all fuel injected Lycomings and going exclusively with AFP throttle bodies, so this might not apply to the IO-390-EXP119 since it is already using the AFP? It does say the throttle body is ‘new’, but it’s not clear if that means ‘new’ as in not Silverhawk, or ‘new’ as in AFP came up with a new throttle body that isn't the FM150 or FM200.

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by czechsix

Scott, regarding the slide shown earlier in this thread from Van's presentation at OSH, do you know if the 'New throttle body Airflow Performance & Lycoming' (with 'lower cost' and 'slight increase in manifold pressure') and image of a throttle body/snorkel with a flange is only for the RV-15? Or are these changes applicable to the 14 as well? If there's never been an issue with the hose clamp attachment method I'm curious why the change to the flange mount using four bolts, which is more complicated to fabricate?

Thanks,

I wasn't at all involved with any work done towards making this change so I don't know any details regarding the reason for it beyond what the rest of you have heard from the presentation.
Maybe Greg could elaborate at some point if he is able to crawl out from under the avalanche.