Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I have been sweating a bit (OK more than a bit) too much this summer while meandering about the not so cool Canadian skies.
Seems no matter how much ventilation I have I need more.
I currently have two small (2" vents in the windshield, a crazy small (3/4 inch vent that gets its air supply from the left wing root) and the inward opening flap at the back of the canopy.
With all three wide open I'm still begging for a breeze....
I was thinking off a very dirty (aerodynamically) flip open vent on the fuselage side below the canopy/windshield edge...I'll happily surrender a few knots of TAS for a few know of breeze

so I was wondering if anyone has built a better vent.

I have often thought of making a vent in the fuel sender access cover. I haven't actually done it though....

I installed two vent intakes, one in each leading edge of the wing just outside the prop wash. Ran 1' scat hose from the intake to an "eyeball" vent in the dash. At altitude we shut them down and cannot unfold a map when open.

Thorp Cabin Air Vents. Let's see if the attachment works. This from an old newsletter article I posted.

_________________
Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Again total newbie here.

But my thought was this. In order for air to come into the cabin. It has to either pressurize the cabin, or there has to be a way for the air within the cabin to get out, for new fresh air to get in.

Is it possible that with all your inlet air vents, there is simply not enough place for the air to get out?

Maybe a rearward facing small retractable hinged flap about the size of a dollar bill, on the bottom of the fuselage behind or under the baggage area would make sense. I suppose it could be on either side of the fuselage but putting it on the bottom of the fuselage hides it from veiw. This flap would sort of be like a cowl flap. Maybe a simple hinge with a teleflex cable to open/close the flap. the vent could then be connected to a scat hose or something so that the exit vent inside the cabin could be placed strategically for asthetics etc. This rearward flap it would seem to me would create an area of low pressure behind it to help suck out the hot cabin air.

This evacuation of the air would then "make room" for new fresh air to come in through your already existing inlets?

Just a crazy idea that popped into my strange mind.

Cabin air exits the tailcone.

_________________
Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Our new bird has NACA inlet vents, two of them, just forward of the windshield. One goes to eyeball vent for pilot and one for the co-pilot. We were suspect about them, but in 100+ degree weather the cockpit get a nice airflow from them in flight. Not sure I well they would do if we were flying through a bit of rain. Probably need to make some stoppers for the them on cross country flights.



Brent Schultz
N327SB
KAJO

Can you post a picture of the NACA vent please

Here is the best pictures I got. Try to zoom in and look at the cowling just 5 or 6 inches away from the front windshield. I will try to take some up close pictures and post them later.

Sorry Those were not good pictures. I will shoot some new ones and post it this weekend.

I thought of different places to put a vent too and decided the bottom of the fuselage is probably not good - could get exhaust fumes. Sides probably not good either - downstream of the gills air would be warm. Mine are at the leading edge joints of center and outer wings.

Les Krumel,
Albuquerque

I like the NACA ducts since they make the airplane look like its going 10 kts faster... It would be a bear to install without removing the fuel tank though...I think...

Les...do you have any pictures?

I have an outward opening rear vent vs inward opening. It blows about double to triple the air of the inward vent.
Open your rear vent and chug a couple cans of beer. Then cut up the cans and make a forward facing air scoop over the original rear vent hole in canopy. I had to go up above the canopy about an inch to hit good air flow. May want to put some tape on canopy before taping the scoop on to prevent scratches in canopy. After 8 hours go up and see if it made enough difference to justify changing to an outward opening door that rams the air in.
I'll try to get some pics when I get home next Monday. I also have two leading edge vents in the innermost rib bay just against the fuselage side. The air exits just below the knee thru the side skin. The combination of the three seem adequate for the Texas heat. Of the three the rear canopy blows the most air.

Bernie
N18xs

I am looking forward to seeing a picture of the aircobra scoop... it makes a ton of common sense

Newsletter #56 , page 168 . Fresh air vent . One I used , but did not use Tee #2 .