I’ve recently finished my RV7. I installed the Rod bower ram air kit. Works great. However it didn’t occur to me at the time, is rain a problem? . Does anyone have experience with ram air in the rain ?. Should I drill a drain hole ?
...and the wrong kind of nuts holding it togetherIf concerned, close the butterfly so the air is sourced is from inside the lower cowl.
BTW, an operational note for folks with a Bower....if one of the reeds is broken or does fit properly, the ram air is seriously pressurizing the lower cowl space, The result is a loss of deltaP for cooling.
This one had a missing reed and two which didn't seal.
View attachment 58340
In addition to a “sniffle valve”, drill a small hole in the low spot of the fiberglass scoop on the cowl. That can collect water when parked.I’ve recently finished my RV7. I installed the Rod bower ram air kit. Works great. However it didn’t occur to me at the time, is rain a problem? . Does anyone have experience with ram air in the rain ?. Should I drill a drain hole ?
Dan, do you know what material is called out for the reeds? I replaced mine with some mylar TLAR, but it didn't hold up. Rod sent replacements a couple of years ago.If concerned, close the butterfly so the air is sourced is from inside the lower cowl.
BTW, an operational note for folks with a Bower....if one of the reeds is broken or does fit properly, the ram air is seriously pressurizing the lower cowl space, The result is a loss of deltaP for cooling.
This one had a missing reed and two which didn't seal.
View attachment 58340
Dan, do you know what material is called out for the reeds?
If its the same form factor (to avoid cowl modifications) I’m looking forward to seeing it.Nope.
Steve Smith may have a no-reed configuration available in the near future. Better choice, IMHO.
Thanks everyone. I’ll drill a small drain hole for ponding at rest. Iappreciate everyones experience. Ive just ticked over 58hrs tt yesterday. I get 1” mp with the ram air
cheers gary
Context please. Are these two different airplanes?Reality check regarding unfiltered ram air…
Same airplane, no change except the airbox swap. There are minor differences in the flight conditions, but generally parameters are quite close.Context please. Are these two different airplanes?
Very much agree. It’s a mantra that I have clung to for quite some time as I have struggled to fit big, effective filters under tight cowlings.Point is, with a decent airbox shape and enough filter media area, there isn't much virtue in running filterless.
Thanks for taking the time to document this.Same airplane, no change except the airbox swap. There are minor differences in the flight conditions, but generally parameters are quite close.
Point is, with a decent airbox shape and enough filter media area, there isn't much virtue in running filterless.