Experiencing 450 F in the footwell seems incredible. But then, so does the
concept of sitting at the hold in 95 F.
For those of us in more moderate climates (viz the UK) I would think it
unlikely that we would experience problems like this. My 912S in an XS Mono
has never shown the least tendency to get hot around the footwell, nor have
there been any signs within the cowling to that effect.Quite the contrary. I
have to blank a serious part of the radiator to maintain a reasonable
running temp in the winter. Others I have spoken to with the same format
have experienced the same characteristics.
My build is strictly to the manual, with no heat lagging on the firewall.
The venting and exhaust are also to the manual. So far my primitive
carbonmonoxide indicators have shown nothing up, nor have I ever felt unwell
after 220 hours in it, so there has been no reason to consider changing any
venting arrangements.
I go to the trouble of writing this to reassure builders. Sometimes they can
be alarmed into making unnecessary mods. Please think very carefully before
departing from the build instruction. All of these little extras can sound
very tempting, but you are trying to build a Europa. Remember that you need
to have a target weight of 800lbs to leave 570lbs free to take two adults
with full fuel plus 80lbs of luggage and headsets. If you can manage to
achieve that target weight, an XS with a 912s is a superb aeroplane. It
takes off like a rocket and can cruise at 130 knots, with a simple fixed
pitch prop.
Have fun, flying, or building. Bryan A. K 360 G- BYSA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Roberts" <jeff@rmmm.net>
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Firewall heat shield.
> > Early in our build (XS mono-wheel with 912S) we heard stories of heat
> > from the engine compartment getting into the foot wells (smoking the
> > carpeting?!) and in front of the instrument panel, heating up the
> > radios, etc. We decided to put cool mat on our firewall to keep out
> > this heat.
> > With 300+ hours on our plane, I would strongly recommend some form of
> > insulation on the firewall. We had temperatures of up to 450 degF at
> > the front of the footwell, melting tie wraps into drops of nylon.
> > Although we have since reduced those extreme temperatures to less than
> > 300 degF, that is still pretty warm.
> > With all the temperature extremes we have had, there has never been
> > noticable heat into the cabin or instrument panel.
> >
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