---------------------------------------------------------- Europa-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Fri 10/24/03: 27 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 02:37 AM - Re: Europa-List Digest: 6 Msgs - 10/23/03 (Trevpond@aol.com) 2. 03:03 AM - (no subject) (Trevpond@aol.com) 3. 10:02 AM - Banter- Is there a valid pfa mod for this?? (Paul Sweeting) 4. 10:07 AM - Re: Banter- Is there a valid pfa mod for this?? (Paul Sweeting) 5. 10:30 AM - 914 Heater (Michael Parkin) 6. 11:10 AM - Europa Tri-Gear 3300 Jabiru Powered (Paul Brodie) 7. 11:47 AM - Re: 914 Heater (Jeremy Davey) 8. 11:49 AM - Re: Europa Tri-Gear 3300 Jabiru Powered (Jeremy Davey) 9. 11:50 AM - Re: Banter- Is there a valid pfa mod for this?? (Jeremy Davey) 10. 12:24 PM - Re: Com Radio Antenna Problem (STOUT, GARRY V, CSFF2) 11. 01:01 PM - Re: Re: Com Radio Antenna Problem (irampil@notes.cc.sunysb.edu) 12. 01:11 PM - Re: Re: Com Radio Antenna Problem (Michael Parkin) 13. 01:39 PM - Re: 914 Heater (Rob Housman) 14. 02:30 PM - Re: Re: Com Radio Antenna Problem (Jim Puglise) 15. 03:18 PM - oil cooler hose (Graham Singleton) 16. 03:57 PM - Re: Europa Tri-Gear 3300 Jabiru Powered (Frank Wood) 17. 04:13 PM - Re: 914 Heater (Paul McAllister) 18. 04:20 PM - Re: oil cooler hose (Paul McAllister) 19. 04:22 PM - Re: Europa Tri-Gear 3300 Jabiru Powered (KARL HEINDL) 20. 05:11 PM - Re: 914 Heater (Peter Zutrauen) 21. 05:22 PM - Re: 914 Heater (Rob Housman) 22. 05:51 PM - Re: 914 Heater (Paul McAllister) 23. 06:28 PM - Routing battery cables through the tunnel (Paul McAllister) 24. 06:58 PM - Re: Re: Com Radio Antenna Problem (n3eu@comcast.net) 25. 08:21 PM - Re: Re: Com Radio Antenna Problem (n3eu@comcast.net) 26. 09:04 PM - Ideas on Rib Mutilation (Ronald J. Parigoris) 27. 09:55 PM - Re: Re: Com Radio Antenna Problem (n3eu@comcast.net) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 02:37:41 AM PST US From: Trevpond@aol.com Subject: Europa-List: Re: Europa-List Digest: 6 Msgs - 10/23/03 --> Europa-List message posted by: Trevpond@aol.com Hi Sherry, Puppy will come with IKC Registration and change of ownership form so that an export pedigree can be applied for with the Irish Kennel Club.=A0 When this=20is received it can be passed to the American Kennel Club and the puppy put on the American Register. Puppy also travels with a health Certificate which is issued when it passes=20a very thorough Veterinary Examination. Hope the above answers all you queries. kind regards Trevor ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 03:03:25 AM PST US From: Trevpond@aol.com Subject: Europa-List: (no subject) --> Europa-List message posted by: Trevpond@aol.com Hi Guys, So, one email went astray - finger trouble - woooops! Trevor ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 10:02:27 AM PST US From: Paul Sweeting Subject: Europa-List: Banter- Is there a valid pfa mod for this?? --> Europa-List message posted by: Paul Sweeting http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2437966110 The contents of this email and any attachments are sent for the personal attention of the addressee(s) only and may be confidential. If you are not the intended addressee, any use, disclosure or copying of this email and any attachments is unauthorised - please notify the sender by return and delete the message. Any representations or commitments expressed in this email are subject to contract. ntl Group Limited ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 10:07:53 AM PST US From: Paul Sweeting Subject: RE: Europa-List: Banter- Is there a valid pfa mod for this?? --> Europa-List message posted by: Paul Sweeting http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2437966110 Or is it what Jeremy did with the bits left over...... The contents of this email and any attachments are sent for the personal attention of the addressee(s) only and may be confidential. If you are not the intended addressee, any use, disclosure or copying of this email and any attachments is unauthorised - please notify the sender by return and delete the message. Any representations or commitments expressed in this email are subject to contract. ntl Group Limited ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 10:30:02 AM PST US From: "Michael Parkin" Subject: Europa-List: 914 Heater --> Europa-List message posted by: "Michael Parkin" Hi Guys, Has anyone designed a 914 Heater Mod they would like to share. I thought of putting a Muffler around the silencer on the left side. Has anyone invented this particular wheel already. regards, Mike Parkin No 312 (G-JULZ) mikenjulie.parkin@btopenworld.com ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 11:10:18 AM PST US From: "Paul Brodie" Subject: Europa-List: Europa Tri-Gear 3300 Jabiru Powered --> Europa-List message posted by: "Paul Brodie" I am pleased to tell you that the day Concorde has retired from active service is the day that G-BYFG took her first flight. The test pilot was Andy Draper who took the aircraft for a 10 minute flight up to 1000ft at 100 kts. I'll advise you of additional data in due course. Regards, Paul Brodie Friday 24 October 2003 ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 11:47:17 AM PST US From: "Jeremy Davey" Subject: RE: Europa-List: 914 Heater --> Europa-List message posted by: "Jeremy Davey" Mike, I believe there are a number of types doing this using the coolant circuit. My inspector used to be Rotax's biggest UK customer and he raised this possibility when I discussed cockpit heating with him. Might be worth looking into? Cheers, Jeremy Jeremy Davey Europa Monowheel 537M G-EZZA -----Original Message----- From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Michael Parkin Subject: Europa-List: 914 Heater --> Europa-List message posted by: "Michael Parkin" Hi Guys, Has anyone designed a 914 Heater Mod they would like to share. I thought of putting a Muffler around the silencer on the left side. Has anyone invented this particular wheel already. regards, Mike Parkin No 312 (G-JULZ) mikenjulie.parkin@btopenworld.com ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 11:49:50 AM PST US From: "Jeremy Davey" Subject: RE: Europa-List: Europa Tri-Gear 3300 Jabiru Powered --> Europa-List message posted by: "Jeremy Davey" Paul, Congratulations! Please have a little champagne for both yourself and G-BYFG tonight as well as the three equally-beautiful Concorde's I saw descend onto Heathrow's 27R today. I got in a trip on G-BOAC before it all ended (sorry, couldn't resist mentioning that!) - any chance of a ride in G-BYFG? Cheers, Jeremy Jeremy Davey Europa Monowheel 537M G-EZZA -----Original Message----- From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Paul Brodie Subject: Europa-List: Europa Tri-Gear 3300 Jabiru Powered --> Europa-List message posted by: "Paul Brodie" I am pleased to tell you that the day Concorde has retired from active service is the day that G-BYFG took her first flight. The test pilot was Andy Draper who took the aircraft for a 10 minute flight up to 1000ft at 100 kts. I'll advise you of additional data in due course. Regards, Paul Brodie Friday 24 October 2003 ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 11:50:26 AM PST US From: "Jeremy Davey" Subject: RE: Europa-List: Banter- Is there a valid pfa mod for this?? --> Europa-List message posted by: "Jeremy Davey" Weeeeellll... we have still got a couple of Spey "205"s that have been 'tweaked' to the extent that Rolls-Royce would only certify them for 10 hours running - plus or minus 10 hours :-). I never really understood why we kept them - I must ask Richard! Cheers, Jeremy Jeremy Davey Europa Monowheel 537M G-EZZA -----Original Message----- From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Paul Sweeting Subject: RE: Europa-List: Banter- Is there a valid pfa mod for this?? --> Europa-List message posted by: Paul Sweeting http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2437966110 Or is it what Jeremy did with the bits left over...... The contents of this email and any attachments are sent for the personal attention of the addressee(s) only and may be confidential. If you are not the intended addressee, any use, disclosure or copying of this email and any attachments is unauthorised - please notify the sender by return and delete the message. Any representations or commitments expressed in this email are subject to contract. ntl Group Limited ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 12:24:17 PM PST US Subject: Europa-List: RE: Com Radio Antenna Problem From: "STOUT, GARRY V, CSFF2" --> Europa-List message posted by: "STOUT, GARRY V, CSFF2" Hi guys, I'm hoping some of our very talented team of builders can give me some advice on a unique Com radio antenna setup I am planning. I've been flying my trigear now for 4 years and have never been happy with the transmit and receive distances I'm getting from my radio......a Garmin 250 XL GPS/Com unit. Initially I installed the Bob Archer antenna, but after a year or so I wasn't happy with the performance and switched to a Comat "general aviation" type antenna. I built an aluminum ground plane about 8" wide and 20" long which I installed inside the fuselage behind the bulkhead. The Comat antenna was mated to that ground plane. I got better performance than with the Bob Archer, but still I think I should be doing better than a 15 mile maximum range. I had the radio bench checked, and the coax cable checked by an avionics shop, and they pronounced everything in good working order. Their suggestion was to glass in a copper wire mesh ground plane to the bottom inside of the fuselage, and then to mount the antenna EXTERNALLY under the belly of the plane. A couple of questions arise. Has anyone else ever tried this? What were the results? and more importantly, what should the dimensions be for the copper wire mesh (screen)? I was thinking that the larger the better, but there may be some technical calculation that I'm unaware of that would dictate a particular size. Any and all comments and advice will be appreciated. Thanks! Regards, Garry V. Stout N4220S Tri A060 ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 01:01:07 PM PST US Subject: Re: Europa-List: RE: Com Radio Antenna Problem From: irampil@notes.cc.sunysb.edu 10/24/2003 04:00:48 PM, Serialize complete at 10/24/2003 04:00:48 PM --> Europa-List message posted by: irampil@notes.cc.sunysb.edu Hi Gary, I think the suggestion about wire mesh and an external antenna is exactly what a tech who works on metal aircraft would say reflexly, but not based on actual knowledge of composite aircraft. I would guess polarization would be a place to look. Comm antennae perform best in vertical orientation whereas Nav prefers horizontal. If you really want to try the copper ground, it should be about a 1/4 wavelength in radius. Use copper foil from Skycraft and you will save weight. Ira ________________________________ Message 12 ____________________________________ Time: 01:11:37 PM PST US From: "Michael Parkin" Subject: Re: Europa-List: RE: Com Radio Antenna Problem --> Europa-List message posted by: "Michael Parkin" Garry, It seems like major move, are you sure such an antenna configuration is necessary. I used the standard copper tape antenna in the fin post. The radio is an Apollo SL30 and after adjustment using a VSWR meter the performance of the equipment is excellent. Generally, RX/TX well in excess of 40 nm. regards, Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "STOUT, GARRY V, CSFF2" Subject: Europa-List: RE: Com Radio Antenna Problem > --> Europa-List message posted by: "STOUT, GARRY V, CSFF2" > > Hi guys, > > I'm hoping some of our very talented team of builders can give me some > advice on a unique Com radio antenna setup I am planning. I've been > flying my trigear now for 4 years and have never been happy with the > transmit and receive distances I'm getting from my radio......a Garmin > 250 XL GPS/Com unit. Initially I installed the Bob Archer antenna, but > after a year or so I wasn't happy with the performance and switched to a > Comat "general aviation" type antenna. I built an aluminum ground plane > about 8" wide and 20" long which I installed inside the fuselage behind > the bulkhead. The Comat antenna was mated to that ground plane. I got > better performance than with the Bob Archer, but still I think I should > be doing better than a 15 mile maximum range. I had the radio bench > checked, and the coax cable checked by an avionics shop, and they > pronounced everything in good working order. Their suggestion was to > glass in a copper wire mesh ground plane to the bottom inside of the > fuselage, and then to mount the antenna EXTERNALLY under the belly of > the plane. A couple of questions arise. Has anyone else ever tried > this? What were the results? and more importantly, what should the > dimensions be for the copper wire mesh (screen)? I was thinking that > the larger the better, but there may be some technical calculation that > I'm unaware of that would dictate a particular size. Any and all > comments and advice will be appreciated. Thanks! > > Regards, > > Garry V. Stout > N4220S Tri A060 > > ________________________________ Message 13 ____________________________________ Time: 01:39:26 PM PST US From: "Rob Housman" Subject: RE: Europa-List: 914 Heater --> Europa-List message posted by: "Rob Housman" I can't say how well it performs because I am not flying yet, but I am ducting heated air from behind the oil and water coolers. Fresh air is from behind the NACA duct that feeds the turbo air intake, and the two are mixed (as required) in a small plenum just forward of the firewall. Best regards, Rob Housman Europa XS Tri-Gear A070 Airframe complete Irvine, CA -----Original Message----- From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com]On Behalf Of Michael Parkin Subject: Europa-List: 914 Heater --> Europa-List message posted by: "Michael Parkin" Hi Guys, Has anyone designed a 914 Heater Mod they would like to share. I thought of putting a Muffler around the silencer on the left side. Has anyone invented this particular wheel already. regards, Mike Parkin No 312 (G-JULZ) mikenjulie.parkin@btopenworld.com ________________________________ Message 14 ____________________________________ Time: 02:30:15 PM PST US From: "Jim Puglise" Subject: Re: Europa-List: RE: Com Radio Antenna Problem --> Europa-List message posted by: "Jim Puglise" Gary- I'm new to the list. My kit is on order so I can't talk to anything specific to the Eurpoa, but I do know communications. If you are just getting 15 miles, you decidedly have a problem (opportunity). Have you put a wattmeter of standing wave bridge into the circuit and checked? If you have a problem, your VSWR should be very high, probably above 2/1. If there is a problem with either the antenna or the coax, it should show up in a high VSWR. If so, it may be a question of optimizing the antenna you have. The other thing I would do is check the coaxial cable, possibly replacing it. There are multiple grades of coax and you want to use high grade coax and "type N" fittings. The other thing I would do is build a simple vertical dipole and jury rig a piece of cable to the radio and try it. You should be able to fit the antenna in the cockpit. It might even be worth trying a dipole made of copper wire taped to the inside of the canopy to see if the antenna is the problem. As far as a groundplane goes (or a dipole, as far as that goes), you can find all the formulas in the "Radio Amateurs Handbook" at the local library. It might be worth a trip to read up on vhf antennas. It would take no more than 10 minutes and only a couple of dollars worth of wire and cable to build a simple dipole. I'd not punch a hole in the skin until you know that it is a problem. An antenna should not even see the figerglass. Jim Puglise, FL >From: "STOUT, GARRY V, CSFF2" >Reply-To: europa-list@matronics.com >To: >Subject: Europa-List: RE: Com Radio Antenna Problem >Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 14:23:50 -0500 > >--> Europa-List message posted by: "STOUT, GARRY V, CSFF2" > >Hi guys, > >I'm hoping some of our very talented team of builders can give me some >advice on a unique Com radio antenna setup I am planning. I've been >flying my trigear now for 4 years and have never been happy with the >transmit and receive distances I'm getting from my radio......a Garmin >250 XL GPS/Com unit. Initially I installed the Bob Archer antenna, but >after a year or so I wasn't happy with the performance and switched to a >Comat "general aviation" type antenna. I built an aluminum ground plane >about 8" wide and 20" long which I installed inside the fuselage behind >the bulkhead. The Comat antenna was mated to that ground plane. I got >better performance than with the Bob Archer, but still I think I should >be doing better than a 15 mile maximum range. I had the radio bench >checked, and the coax cable checked by an avionics shop, and they >pronounced everything in good working order. Their suggestion was to >glass in a copper wire mesh ground plane to the bottom inside of the >fuselage, and then to mount the antenna EXTERNALLY under the belly of >the plane. A couple of questions arise. Has anyone else ever tried >this? What were the results? and more importantly, what should the >dimensions be for the copper wire mesh (screen)? I was thinking that >the larger the better, but there may be some technical calculation that >I'm unaware of that would dictate a particular size. Any and all >comments and advice will be appreciated. Thanks! > >Regards, > >Garry V. Stout >N4220S Tri A060 > > Never get a busy signal because you are always connected with high-speed Internet access. Click here to comparison-shop providers. https://broadband.msn.com ________________________________ Message 15 ____________________________________ Time: 03:18:29 PM PST US From: Graham Singleton Subject: Europa-List: oil cooler hose --> Europa-List message posted by: Graham Singleton At 23:56 22/10/2003 -0700, you wrote: >"paul stewart" >Subject: Europa-List: oil cooler hose > >--> Europa-List message posted by: "paul stewart" > >Given that the manual give the option of mounting the oil cooler 2" lower >to improve >oil cooling and my understanding is that cooling can be an issue with the >914, have folk fitted their oil coolers flush against the cooling duct or the >optional lower position? Paul have a look at the way Pay McA did it. We smoothed out the duct somewhat then took the "lower oil cooler" option. The duct should be completely blocked by radiators IMHO, there's no point having a 2 inch gap at the bottom letting valuable pressure escape. I will attach a picture for you separately. Paul hasn't flow yet but I suspect he will be able to reduce the inlet size and get even better pressure recovery. That will mean less drag. Graham --- ________________________________ Message 16 ____________________________________ Time: 03:57:39 PM PST US From: Frank Wood Subject: Re: Europa-List: Europa Tri-Gear 3300 Jabiru Powered --> Europa-List message posted by: Frank Wood Hi .Congratulations on your Europa first flight.I am 95% complete with my Europa Classic tri- gear with a Jabiru 3300.My europa is A026 and I purchased it about 70% complete and my engine # 33A17 is an early model.I have had the engine running and I anticipate being in the air within the next two months.I would appreciate hearing from you on performance of your aircraft and any problems that you might have.There is a concern that the earlier models of the Jabiru(mine included) could face some cooling problems.However in Pincher Creek in Southern Alberta we do not get high temps very often. Thanks for any advice that you may offer. Frank S Wood. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeremy Davey" Subject: RE: Europa-List: Europa Tri-Gear 3300 Jabiru Powered > --> Europa-List message posted by: "Jeremy Davey" > > Paul, > > Congratulations! Please have a little champagne for both yourself and G-BYFG > tonight as well as the three equally-beautiful Concorde's I saw descend onto > Heathrow's 27R today. > > I got in a trip on G-BOAC before it all ended (sorry, couldn't resist > mentioning that!) - any chance of a ride in G-BYFG? > > Cheers, > Jeremy > > Jeremy Davey > > Europa Monowheel 537M G-EZZA > > > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com > [mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Paul Brodie > To: europa-list@matronics.com > Subject: Europa-List: Europa Tri-Gear 3300 Jabiru Powered > > --> Europa-List message posted by: "Paul Brodie" > > I am pleased to tell you that the day Concorde has retired from active > service is the day that G-BYFG took her first flight. > The test pilot was Andy Draper who took the aircraft for a 10 minute flight > up to 1000ft at 100 kts. > I'll advise you of additional data in due course. > Regards, > Paul Brodie > Friday 24 October 2003 > > ________________________________ Message 17 ____________________________________ Time: 04:13:48 PM PST US From: "Paul McAllister" Subject: Re: Europa-List: 914 Heater --> Europa-List message posted by: "Paul McAllister" Rob, I was thinking of doing the same but I was wondering if this would impede the exit air flow, thus causing over cooling. Opinions ? Paul > I can't say how well it performs because I am not flying yet, but I am > ducting heated air from behind the oil and water coolers. Fresh air is from > behind the NACA duct that feeds the turbo air intake, and the two are mixed > (as required) in a small plenum just forward of the firewall. > Rob Housman ________________________________ Message 18 ____________________________________ Time: 04:20:26 PM PST US From: "Paul McAllister" Subject: Re: Europa-List: oil cooler hose --> Europa-List message posted by: "Paul McAllister" Paul Take a look at http://europa363.versadev.com/sep-03.html I have a bit of a description and a picture there. If you would like more I can email them to you. What does not appaer to be stressed in the manual is to block up all of the gaps you can so that the air is forced through the radiator cores instead of "taking the easy way out" Paul ________________________________ Message 19 ____________________________________ Time: 04:22:07 PM PST US From: "KARL HEINDL" Subject: Re: Europa-List: Europa Tri-Gear 3300 Jabiru Powered --> Europa-List message posted by: "KARL HEINDL" Hi Paul, CONGRATULATIONS ! I was beginning to wonder when you might get airborne. You were really brave to go with a new type engine, and we are all keen to get more information in due course, especially in regard to weight, cg, performance, and fuel consumption. I have pretty well finished my test flying program and hope to start the fun flying next season, keeping the bird in my garage over winter. Best Wishes, Karl >From: "Paul Brodie" >Reply-To: europa-list@matronics.com >To: >Subject: Europa-List: Europa Tri-Gear 3300 Jabiru Powered >Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 19:11:24 +0100 > >--> Europa-List message posted by: "Paul Brodie" > >I am pleased to tell you that the day Concorde has retired from active >service is the day that G-BYFG took her first flight. >The test pilot was Andy Draper who took the aircraft for a 10 minute flight >up to 1000ft at 100 kts. >I'll advise you of additional data in due course. >Regards, >Paul Brodie >Friday 24 October 2003 > > Find a cheaper internet access deal - choose one to suit you. http://www.msn.co.uk/internetaccess ________________________________ Message 20 ____________________________________ Time: 05:11:09 PM PST US Subject: RE: Europa-List: 914 Heater From: "Peter Zutrauen" --> Europa-List message posted by: "Peter Zutrauen" I am curious how this solution will work, and am toying with the idea of doing the same in the future. I would expect that chocking off the heat-exchanger's cooling exhaust (to provide the required pressure/flow into the cabin) on the cooler days would help keep the engine temps up, and reduce cooling drag to boot (assuming less total airflow). I would also assume that with the large cabin greenhouse, one would only need cabin heating on the significantly colder days when overcooling would be more of an issue than overheating. I'm eager to hear how Rob's solution works out! Cheers Pete A239 in Coooold Ottawa, Canada. -----Original Message----- From: Paul McAllister [mailto:paul.mcallister@qia.net] Subject: Re: Europa-List: 914 Heater --> Europa-List message posted by: "Paul McAllister" Rob, I was thinking of doing the same but I was wondering if this would impede the exit air flow, thus causing over cooling. Opinions ? Paul > I can't say how well it performs because I am not flying yet, but I am > ducting heated air from behind the oil and water coolers. Fresh air is from > behind the NACA duct that feeds the turbo air intake, and the two are mixed > (as required) in a small plenum just forward of the firewall. > Rob Housman == == == == ________________________________ Message 21 ____________________________________ Time: 05:22:10 PM PST US From: "Rob Housman" Subject: RE: Europa-List: 914 Heater --> Europa-List message posted by: "Rob Housman" I decided on this approach after clearing it with Neville. A small deflector is hinged into the airflow to deflect hot air into a SCAT tube connected to a flange mounted onto the aluminum duct when I want cabin heat. Why are you concerned about OVERcooling, or did you mean overHEATing?. Impeding the airflow over the heat exchangers would cause the coolant temperature to rise not decrease, and when you want heat in the cabin the OAT is usually low enough that cooling the engine is not a problem. I think I can restrain myself from using cabin heat while climbing out of Palm Springs in August ;-) Best regards, Rob Housman Europa XS Tri-Gear A070 Airframe complete Irvine, CA -----Original Message----- From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com]On Behalf Of Paul McAllister Subject: Re: Europa-List: 914 Heater --> Europa-List message posted by: "Paul McAllister" Rob, I was thinking of doing the same but I was wondering if this would impede the exit air flow, thus causing over cooling. Opinions ? Paul > I can't say how well it performs because I am not flying yet, but I am > ducting heated air from behind the oil and water coolers. Fresh air is from > behind the NACA duct that feeds the turbo air intake, and the two are mixed > (as required) in a small plenum just forward of the firewall. > Rob Housman ________________________________ Message 22 ____________________________________ Time: 05:51:20 PM PST US From: "Paul McAllister" Subject: Re: Europa-List: 914 Heater --> Europa-List message posted by: "Paul McAllister" Rob, That was a typo, I meant over heating. I'd be interested on how you approach your hinged deflector. Cheers, Paul ________________________________ Message 23 ____________________________________ Time: 06:28:09 PM PST US From: "Paul McAllister" Subject: Europa-List: Routing battery cables through the tunnel --> Europa-List message posted by: "Paul McAllister" Hi All, I am thinking of putting my battery cables through the tunnel. Anyone have some best practices to share ? Thanks, Paul ________________________________ Message 24 ____________________________________ Time: 06:58:51 PM PST US From: n3eu@comcast.net Subject: Re: Europa-List: RE: Com Radio Antenna Problem --> Europa-List message posted by: n3eu@comcast.net Limit of performance at 15 miles is equivalent to, if all other variables ideal, either you or ATC transmitting about 50 milliwatts! Verses 7-8 watts on your end, or up to 50 watts per FCC rules on ATC's end, except for ARTCC Centers. An 8" x 20" ground plane might be very directional (bet Ferg would know!) and if the pattern is weak in fore/aft direction, that's where you want it stronger for usual VFR comm at least. 20" diam round metal anything, or 20" center to the corners of a square, or 4 legs of copper wire from 'Romex' house wire will be the same as copper mesh at VHF. If your avionics guy checked the cable for DC continuity and no short, that's valid 90% of the time -- the other 10% is how RF behaves - doesen't see just DC, so a loose swap with an RG-58 patch cable will check that. I also can't see how mounting an antenna which requires a ground plane inside the fuse can assure there's no interference from the pitch push tube. That could have been the problem with the Bob Archer. To the extent others have found success, luck can control, so different temporary mounting locations is one attempt at a fix. It will affect radiating pattern, and you can check this by flying at a distance from an ATIS broadcast to produce very weak reception and fly gentle 360's. Once when I botched the dimensions of an idiot-simple "cable balun" to fix a nav antenna problem, them 360's at just 50 nm from a high-altitude (mucho watts) VOR showed how badly I done! She's perfect now. Sounds like sumpin's radically wrong, if your tech guy checked xmit power and receive sensitivity, as amateur antenna installs can be very forgiving. Today I helped a buddy out when I told him he sounded weaker than usual, but still clear. Seems he had fixed his headliner and had to renew a whip antenna connection which he broke. He connected both repaired center and shield ring connectors (no BNC, original antenna on a '46 Luscombe) to the one threaded stud of the antenna, thus shorting the two wires together. Worse yet, he uses only a dinky 2-watt handheld connected to said antenna. Still worked...RF doesn't fully see the DC short. Regards, Fred F. > Hi guys, > > I'm hoping some of our very talented team of builders can give me some > advice on a unique Com radio antenna setup I am planning. I've been > flying my trigear now for 4 years and have never been happy with the > transmit and receive distances I'm getting from my radio......a Garmin > 250 XL GPS/Com unit. Initially I installed the Bob Archer antenna, but > after a year or so I wasn't happy with the performance and switched to a > Comat "general aviation" type antenna. I built an aluminum ground plane > about 8" wide and 20" long which I installed inside the fuselage behind > the bulkhead. The Comat antenna was mated to that ground plane. I got > better performance than with the Bob Archer, but still I think I should > be doing better than a 15 mile maximum range. I had the radio bench > checked, and the coax cable checked by an avionics shop, and they > pronounced everything in good working order. Their suggestion was to > glass in a copper wire mesh ground plane to the bottom inside of the > fuselage, and then to mount the antenna EXTERNALLY under the belly of > the plane. A couple of questions arise. Has anyone else ever tried > this? What were the results? and more importantly, what should the > dimensions be for the copper wire mesh (screen)? I was thinking that > the larger the better, but there may be some technical calculation that > I'm unaware of that would dictate a particular size. Any and all > comments and advice will be appreciated. Thanks! > > Regards, > > Garry V. Stout > N4220S Tri A060 ________________________________ Message 25 ____________________________________ Time: 08:21:27 PM PST US From: n3eu@comcast.net Subject: Re: Europa-List: RE: Com Radio Antenna Problem --> Europa-List message posted by: n3eu@comcast.net Jim Puglise wrote: > There are multiple grades of coax and you want to use high grade coax > and "type N" fittings. I can't agree that an "N" connector verses BNC will add anything at VHF, Jim, though it would be better where it's subject to environmental contamination. I've seen specs on factory male-female BNC connector pairs at a nothing .2db insertion loss, and even if user-fabricated connectors - true of any connector, any additional loss is still very small. At VHF also, any RG-58/whatever at less than 20 feet is perfectly adequate, though solid conductor is arguably not good mechanically. Lower-loss cable (400, 142) will be specified at transponder and GPS frequencies, though. > The other thing I would do is build a simple > vertical dipole and jury rig a piece of cable to the radio and try it. The interesting thing about that is whether a 1/2-wave dipole behaves any different from a 1/4-wave monopole whip antenna, if in free space (an airplane). You'll find long/lively threads about this on ham newsgroups, so I once posed the question to an actual engineer from an actual aircraft antenna company. He said that despite the stuff in many texts on antenna theory, they're exactly the same well above the earth. At least it mostly answers the question as to why airframe mfrs don't mind comm antenna installations on the top of fuselage, contrary to the insistence of the 1/4-wave "half-donut" purists that it shouldn't work well at all where an ATC antenna is perforce below your altitude. It's also been written that a dipole is more sensitive to interference from nearby metal elements than a monopole whip mounted inside a plastic airplane, but if my antenna engineer friend is right, that might not be true either. Maybe like the three rules of real estate valuation - location, location, location! Regards, Fred F. ________________________________ Message 26 ____________________________________ Time: 09:04:52 PM PST US From: "Ronald J. Parigoris" Subject: Europa-List: Ideas on Rib Mutilation --> Europa-List message posted by: "Ronald J. Parigoris" Would appreciate input on Rib Mutilation. Have some thin wall, bout 1 inch OD Irrigation tube that I want to run in wing to plumb wires to tip and run static/airspeed hose through and stall warning indicator hoses/wires.. I can cut a 1 inch hole and just let the plastic tube lay on the ribs. Or can put a few dabs of silicone at the joint. Also have some perfect fitting grommets, but that would require cutting a larger hole by probably 1/8 inch. Would it be recommended to reinforce rib, lets say with a BID Patch prior to cutting hole, especial if using grommets? Thx. Ron Parigoris A-265 monowheel ________________________________ Message 27 ____________________________________ Time: 09:55:05 PM PST US From: n3eu@comcast.net Subject: Re: Europa-List: RE: Com Radio Antenna Problem --> Europa-List message posted by: n3eu@comcast.net n3eu@comcast.net wrote: > A 20" diam round metal anything, or 20" center to the corners of a square.... Oops...I meant 20" radius, not diameter. Half-correct, unless grading "on the curve" -- score zero. :-) And come to think, while in digital logic my above "or" statement is true, it's nonsense if not known which is true, which may have been one reason I flunked Symbolic Logic in college. But since I flunked, I can't be sure of even that! Regards, Fred F.