X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Received: from rwcrmhc13.comcast.net ([216.148.227.153] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.1c.3) with ESMTP id 1336346 for flyrotary@lancaironline.net; Thu, 17 Aug 2006 22:27:03 -0400 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=216.148.227.153; envelope-from=rlwhite@comcast.net Received: from quail.site (c-68-35-160-229.hsd1.nm.comcast.net[68.35.160.229]) by comcast.net (rwcrmhc13) with SMTP id <20060818022614m13005qa1be>; Fri, 18 Aug 2006 02:26:25 +0000 Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2006 20:25:38 -0600 From: Bob White To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Alternate Air Message-Id: <20060817202538.9d059fd8.rlwhite@comcast.net> In-Reply-To: References: X-Mailer: Sylpheed version 2.2.7 (GTK+ 2.8.10; i686-pc-linux-gnu) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 20:53:27 -0500 "Russell Duffy" wrote: > So the question is, do most of you have an alternate air source in your > intake system? Did the FAA inspector or DAR specifically look for it? > > > Hi Bob, > > This is a pretty timely question, since I'm working on this decision for the > RV-8. First, I've never had alt air on any of the planes I've built, and I > don't think there's any chance my DAR would give me a hard time for not > installing it now. Van's didn't even make any provision for it until just a > year or so ago, when they came out with an alt air mod, then a new mod > because the first one didn't work so well. > > On one hand, I am thinking that I've never had it, and don't need it now. > On the other hand, I can easily see how it could be needed. Van finally > added it after at least a couple RV's went down due to freezing rain, or > snow blocking up the air filter. Even in the RV's with carb heat, there > isn't enough heat generated by the crappy factory system to melt the > blockage, particularly if you're late applying it. > > Bottom line is that I think it's a good idea if you have a filtered system > fed by a ram air scoop. > > Cheers, > Rusty > > Hi Rusty, I found a method of supplying alternate air that is almost pain free. In my case using it moves my air filter to about 1/2 inch from the prop, but it's automatic, and doesn't present much of a restriction when not using alternate air. I might look for a shorter filter. See the AEM air bypass valve in the Summit catalog: http://tinyurl.com/luoea I'm not sure how much air it flows in bypass mode but may find out one of these days. If I put alternate air in, this is what I will use. Bob W.