lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> << Lancair Builders' Mail List >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Posted for "Ian B. Crowe" <ian.crowe@sympatico.ca>: Two problems surfaced early on. Firstly the engine is wider than the standard engine specified by Lancair and interferes with the cowling supplied at the top forward "ears" for attaching the baffles. The second problem is the tuned induction runners which foul the lower cowling on each side. I cut out two rectangles in the way of the runners and built a glass fairing out below the runners to clear the pipes. I attempted to fair this back into the lower cowl. To solve the problem of the "ears", I put a bump in the top cowl on either side and faired it back into the cowl and blended it into the bulge I had built in the upper cowl which matched the bulge in the lower cowl. A third and fourth problem was the fouling of the cowl and the topmost member of the engine mount between the two top engine anti vibration pads, plus the cowl fouled the starter ring. To solve the above I had to graft in a tapered piece of fibreglass, 1" at the front tapering to 0" at the rear. This caused the air inlet openings to become elongated. The net result of all the above is that the whole cowl top and bottom was too heavy and did not even look particularly good. I would not even use the words "Aesthetically pleasing" within a mile of the job! So recognizing that I needed to buy some expertise I hired a local custom builder of fibre glass parts to make me a new cowling system. The end result of all this is that I will be in the cowl business. I will be the proud possessor of the moulds (whether I need them or not) for an engine with tuned runners fitted on the long engine mount. I expect to have the completed cowl within the next 15 days and I will be prepared to offer the use of the moulds free of charge to any other builder who has the same problems as I had. The only stipulation is that the builder I use here will be the one to build the cowl and the purchaser will deal directly with him. I will be able to give a good price estimate as soon as my cowl is finished and will post photos. With our dollar at $0.57 US I would think that it will be attractive. Maybe it is only my imagination but I have a feeling that the original cowl, as built by Lancair would not have been much of a fit with the specified engine. The plane is in the paint shop and then off to the airport for the final assembly. 90% complete, how much to go? Ian Crowe C-FKRO LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html LML Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.