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Thread: Ventilation

  1. #1
    Senior Member colospace's Avatar
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    Default Ventilation

    I'm just fishing for some thoughts on cockpit ventilation.
    I am building an S7 with the bubble doors, so I am loathe to cut into the plexi for vents. When I did the demo flight with John McBean, just propping the door open with the door latch seemed to work well, so I had been thinking I would take a "wait and see" approach to adding NACA ducts.
    I am having second thoughts about that approach as I would hate to deal with the mess and paint touch up later.
    I am considering using a smaller than normal NACA duct with 1-1/2 inch SCAT tubing to eyeball vents in the panel.
    I guess I am looking for some experience based input as to whether this will be adequate, inadequate or the whole thing is unnecessary. Thoughts?
    - Gary
    S7 SuperSport Tri-gear
    w/Rotax 912, Oratex, Dynon

  2. #2
    Senior Member jiott's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ventilation

    My thoughts: I used the Kitfox factory eyeball vent optional kit with NACA ducts in the sides of the boot cowl. Am very pleased with them. I have never felt like I needed to crack open the doors in flight even in the hot summers here (Portland Oregon). It is really nice to be able to aim the vent wherever you want for both pilot and pax, as well as adjust the airflow rate. I mounted the eyeballs on the extreme right and left of my panel. I agree I didn't like the idea either of cutting into the bubble doors. If you install the NACA ducts you definitely want to do that early on, not later as an afterthought. Be careful making the cutout in the boot cowl for the NACA ducts; you only cut out about half the area. I know several people who rushed ahead without reading the instructions and cut way too much out. It is a ***** to fix after making that mistake.
    Jim Ott
    Portland, OR
    Kitfox SS7 flying
    Rotax 912ULS

  3. #3
    Senior Member Dave S's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ventilation

    If you do a search on "Cabin vent" several previously posted threads will show up - many with pictures.

    FWIW - unless you only fly in cold weather - a person does need vents of some kind. Also the side of the boot cowl is a good high pressure area for a vent

    Sincerely.
    Dave S
    Kitfox 7 Trigear (Flying since 2009)
    912ULS Warp Drive

    St Paul, MN

  4. #4
    Senior Member HighWing's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ventilation

    Not a Seven and not using the Eyeball vents, but my choice from back in the day was the NACA type vent. My original plan was to use some sort of tubing to direct airflow, but decided otherwise. Again, way back then, I was always a bit dismayed by the guys I saw with sponges tucked into the vent inlet to stop airflow in winter, so did a bit of modification.

    The first picture shows the vent closed. The "door" was the cut out skin trimmed and repaired with glass/resin where needed. The hinge was a piece of thin glass/resin. I figures if a fishing pole could bend then so could my hinge. The benefit of the glass hinge ultimately is that it is very stable in vertical movement so the door always closed centered.

    Naca 5.jpg

    The second picture shows the vent open.

    Naca 6.jpg

    The third picture shows the inside with the shaping for the eventual attachment of tubing. The ring is attached to a lever that is shaped to hold the door open, whereas a spring holds it closed when not secured by the lever.

    NACA 7.jpg

    Another idea I had but never used, was gotten from what Boeing once used on the APU inlet on their 737s. It was a wing shape "T"ed off the cover on the hinge end. While closed the Winged T was in parallel with the air flow, but when opened, the Winged T deflected additional air into the duct. No pic of that.
    Lowell Fitt
    Goodyear, AZ


    My You Tube Channel

  5. #5
    Senior Member Flybyjim's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ventilation

    How about getting some cool fresh air to your feet, how has that been handled.

  6. #6
    Super Moderator Av8r3400's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ventilation

    I got a pair of these mounted in the "kick panels" just in front of the doors.


    It worked so well in 'Ol Yeller…

    IMG_0520.jpg


    I did the same mount in the Mangy Fox.

    IMG_1952.jpg
    Av8r3400
    Kitfox Model IV
    The Mangy Fox
    912UL 105hp Zipper
    YouTube Videos

  7. #7
    Senior Member colospace's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ventilation

    Larry, I had seen your configuration in a previous search of posts, but figured it would just put air on my long legs (that will likely be splayed out to the side) rather than getting it on my face/neck. What is your experience in that regard. Sure looks like it would help Jim's feet out.
    - Gary
    S7 SuperSport Tri-gear
    w/Rotax 912, Oratex, Dynon

  8. #8
    Super Moderator Av8r3400's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ventilation

    I have short legs, so maybe this isn't the only solution for you "lanky" guys.

    I will say that with the vent open, there is a considerable amount of air flowing around the entire cabin. These vents can be turned to take "ram" air, which is a considerable amount of flow, or they can be turned away from the airflow as a exhausting vent. It is surprising how much air movement this will cause. I often crack them open slightly backwards in the winter to keep air moving.
    Av8r3400
    Kitfox Model IV
    The Mangy Fox
    912UL 105hp Zipper
    YouTube Videos

  9. #9
    Senior Member PapuaPilot's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ventilation

    Does anyone else have poor ventilation airflow? I put NACA ducts just forward of my door with 2" SCAT tubing and eyeball vents. I thought it was going to be really strong airflow but it is almost nil.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Phil Nelson
    A&P-IA, Maintenance Instructor
    KF 5 Outback, Cont. IO-240
    Flying since 2016

  10. #10
    Senior Member jiott's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ventilation

    My NACA ducts are somewhat higher than yours Phil and give quite a strong airflow when the eyeball is full open.

    The vents that blow into the footwell area are a neat idea, but I would personally not want to give up my eyeball vents that I can aim right at my face and neck on those hot days.
    Jim Ott
    Portland, OR
    Kitfox SS7 flying
    Rotax 912ULS

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