We have cowl flaps on our Pawnee plus strict operating procedures for the pilots particularly during decent. One of our challenges is protecting the engine from thermal shock during the winter wave season when we may have long tows to 6500ft AMSL (4000ft AGL)or higher where temps can be below freezing. Our maintenance workshop also recommended we also change the oil every 33 hours and got 2100 hours our of our last engine.
Personally I would like to see one of the new generation aero turbo diesels developed for a tug http://www.deltahawkengines.com/econom00.shtml SDF -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Borgelt Sent: Tuesday, 22 January 2008 7:05 PM To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Glider Tugs At 09:42 PM 21/01/2008, you wrote: >Thanks Mike, whilst I do not know a great deal about tug engines I >thought the main advantage of such engines was the ability to be >maintained by non LAME labour, lower consumption and the ability to >descent rapidly due to water cooling. Not sure if it outweighs the >problems you have mentioned. Reading their website it would seem >that the kit had an approval, but I do not really know. > >Paul > I don't know why nobody has designed a proper set of cowl flaps/louvres to keep the air cooled engine warm in descent. Easier than a new engine installation surely. There is a limit to the fuel gain. You are running at full power with a load and detonation would be just as bad for a water cooled engine as for air cooled. Who maintains the engine gets into the approval thingy. If you do an STC for the new engine you still need a LAME only he isn't familiar with the engine! You can do one off experimentals but AFAIK you still need a LAME unless it is a homebuilt and you are the builder and get the repairman certificate. Mike Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments phone Int'l + 61 746 355784 fax Int'l + 61 746 358796 cellphone Int'l + 61 428 355784 Int'l + 61 429 355784 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.borgeltinstruments.com _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
