REFLECTOR: Vortilons

[Jim Sower]

I have the same problem with my 173 FG.  I have outlets to the cabin in the outlet
plenum of the forward oil cooler, but not much air goes there if it can get out the
bottom scoop.  I plan on making a "flapper valve" that in one position covers the
outlets to the cabin, and in the other position covers the overboard vent.  That will
force all the air coming through the forward cooler into the cabin.  Of course that's
continually heating outside air, so if it still doesn't work, I'll fix it so when I
open the vents to the cabin and close the overboard vent, it will also close off the
inlet and turn on a blower that recirculates cabin air through the forward cooler.
I'm not worried about not being able to cool the oil since this only happens in the
dead of winter when the aft cooler should be able to do the job by itself.
Fix it next summer, try it next winter .... Jim S.

Chuck Jensen wrote:

> Jack,
>
> I get the same speed in the XL RG...if I have about an 80kt tailwind!!!  I
> too am going thru the "I tired of freezing to death and I'm not going to
> take it any more."  I'm going to try tapping into the oil line to the front
> cooler and route it to a cooler in a plenum in the nose so the air flow can
> slow down and absorb the heat or I'll route it to a oil cooler in the cabin
> and use a fan to blow air across it.
>
> No doubt about it, the heated seats and nice blanket doesn't cut it at -8C.
> It feels like a meat locker.  When I blocked off enough air flow through the
> front oil cooler, it heated up the air nice, but the engine oil temp went up
> 30F.  I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm doing it!!!
>
> Want a cheap speed increase...gap seals were the answer for me.  I gained an
> easy 5 kts and maybe as much as 8-9kts with a $5 gap seal kit, though it
> doesn't help aileron responsiveness any!
>
> Chuck
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reflector-admin@tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-admin@tvbf.org]On
> Behalf Of Jack Sheehan
> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 2:03 PM
> To: reflector@tvbf.org
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Vortilons
>
> Wow ! So much discussion VG's Vortillons , Trailing edge fences. I
> must be nuts. I have about 150 Hours on my XL-RG I did the test
> flying without anything. It flew great. I painted the airplane and it
> flew better. ( guess I just got better). I have looked at all the
> stuff and am reluctant to make any changes because the wing just
> looks good clean. The airplane gets a little sloppy below 100 knots
> with the gear down. You have to use the rudders to lead the turn and
> the aileron inputs are very deliberate. The problem I have is I am so
> used to it everything feels OK. I plan to install the vortillons and
> see if that makes a big change and then put on some trailing edge
> fences to see if that does anything. I would remove anything that
> effects the top end. I would rather go fast.
> The only other modification I would be looking to do would be to get
> some more heat in the airplane. On a trip back from Kentucky last
> week I was really cold OAT -8C @  FL 015 but the ground speed was 260
> KTS 285 in the decent.
> Jack
> N55XL
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--
Jim Sower ... Destiny's Plaything
Crossville, TN; Chapter 5
Long-EZ N83RT, Velocity N4095T