Re: REFLECTOR: Pictures of the air intake on my bird

["Bob Kuc" <kucb@ix.netcom.com>]

Brian:

Here is a thought.

Think of a straw attached to the side of the plane.   Wind will go through
that with very little drag.  Put in a flap with an actuator.  I would think
that if you put in a temp probe in  the plenum at the hottest point, and
attach this to a microprocessor.  At a certain temp rang, have a servo open
up the flap a little to force more air into the cowl.  You can also have a
Pilot controlled flag also instead of the microprocessor..  This way, the
flap is open just enough to ram in the air that is needed.  The rest should
go out the back.  While on the ground and camping under the wing, you have a
place to put the newspaper without getting wet :)  Of course close the flag
to keep the bugs out.


Bob Kuc 173 FGE

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian K. Michalk <michalk@awpi.com>
To: Simon Aegerter <aegerter@dataway.ch>
Cc: reflector@awpi.com <reflector@awpi.com>
Date: Thursday, October 29, 1998 9:22 AM
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Pictures of the air intake on my bird


>> Remember, Al: most people get TOO MUCH cylinder cooling. So, what we are
>> trying to achieve is to have less cooling AND less drag in cruise while
>> still being able to cool enough in climb. Besides, what's a high
>> performance airplane without cowl flaps, right? <g>
>
>Ahh, you already beat me to my previous post.
>
>> Anyway, Brian: I HATE your invention. It is great and I cannot have it.
>> There's no room for it on a retract. <g>
>
>You may still be able to have it.
>
>What this WILL do is tell me the OPTIMUM opening size for different
>airspeeds.  This will allow those coming after me to adjust their
>intakes accordingly.  It will also tell me if I can use something
>much smaller.
>Another option I was considering was to have the flapper part
>parallel to the fuselage.  One could easily fashion a flapper that
>conformed to the fuselage curve.  In fact, it would be a little stronger
>too.
>
>The actuator would be inside the fuselage.
>I decided against that arrangement because the strake was handy
>and I would have had my actuator sticking into the fuselage.
>