Cockpit heating Ideas

[facthunter]

What about when you close it on a HOT day. Is the radiator restricted?  Nev

[corvairkr]

2 hours ago, facthunter said:

What about when you close it on a HOT day. Is the radiator restricted?  Nev

No, Nev. when not in use I diverted the air to the low pressure area at the cowl exit. We have plenty of hot days in North Queensland and the engine never got anywhere near hot.

 

jason 

[skippydiesel]

2 hours ago, corvairkr said:

No, Nev. when not in use I diverted the air to the low pressure area at the cowl exit. We have plenty of hot days in North Queensland and the engine never got anywhere near hot.

 

jason 

Hi Jason,

 

What of noise ? ie does engine noise increase markedly when hot air duct open?

 

Have you flown in rain? Does rain water come in with hot air?

 

What size is and from where did you source, your ducting, radiator air scoop, & hot air valve?

😈

 

[corvairkr]

2 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

Hi Jason,

 

What of noise ? ie does engine noise increase markedly when hot air duct open?

 

Have you flown in rain? Does rain water come in with hot air?

 

What size is and from where did you source, your ducting, radiator air scoop, & hot air valve?

😈

 

G’day Skip,

The noise level was unnoticeable. It was that effective you really only had to crack it open a very small amount. I never flew in rain hard enough for water to enter. 
I custom made the fiberglass scoop to fit the exact exit angle I needed. From memory the width of the scoop was about 1/4 of the length of the radiator. I used this heat box and scat hose from aircraft spruce https://www.aircraftspruce.com.au/catalog/eppages/homebuilderscabinheatbox.php

 

if I was to do it again I would probably use the heat box/ splitter that Jabiru use which is around half the size.

 

jason 

[Moneybox]

On 16/11/2025 at 3:39 PM, corvairkr said:

G’day Skip,

The noise level was unnoticeable. It was that effective you really only had to crack it open a very small amount. I never flew in rain hard enough for water to enter. 
I custom made the fiberglass scoop to fit the exact exit angle I needed. From memory the width of the scoop was about 1/4 of the length of the radiator. I used this heat box and scat hose from aircraft spruce https://www.aircraftspruce.com.au/catalog/eppages/homebuilderscabinheatbox.php

 

if I was to do it again I would probably use the heat box/ splitter that Jabiru use which is around half the size.

 

jason 

This seems like the best of all options although the installation may be a bit more complicated. You are using engine heat without plumbing water and no risk of exhaust gases when in the air. I like it although you might get even more heat ducting from the oil cooler. 

[skippydiesel]

10 hours ago, Moneybox said:

This seems like the best of all options although the installation may be a bit more complicated. You are using engine heat without plumbing water and no risk of exhaust gases when in the air. I like it although you might get even more heat ducting from the oil cooler. 

True!

[facthunter]

Take a while before you got much Heat from it on a cold day.. It's also a duct through your firewall. Nev

[skippydiesel]

14 hours ago, Moneybox said:

This seems like the best of all options although the installation may be a bit more complicated. You are using engine heat without plumbing water and no risk of exhaust gases when in the air. I like it although you might get even more heat ducting from the oil cooler. 

Further thoughts;

• My oil cooler is in the cowling exit air stream, so potential for delivering contaminated air, especially leaking exhaust CO, also leaking oil & fuel.
• Coolant radiator is front of cowling taking in fresh air - safer, possibly less noisy BUT longer ducting .😈

[facthunter]

Why are you worried about Noise? It's only a concern when High FAN speed is on. Nev