I've seen at least 10 airplanes on the east ramp of FAI that hve one of two engine heater plugs mounted on the cowl. Two are pictured below. Anyone know details about these kits? I especially like the ones with a little indicator light above them.




Brett

Go speak to Jon McIntyre at Northland Aviation on the East Ramp. He does a nice job with that type install. He also adds a pigtail cord on the inside that allows you to plug in a space heater inside the cabin.
-DP

Common on most Tanis Heater equipped planes I have flown. I think Tanis sells the plug-in kit on it's own without having to buy the entire Tanis package.

denalipilot wrote:Go speak to Jon McIntyre at Northland Aviation on the East Ramp. He does a nice job with that type install. He also adds a pigtail cord on the inside that allows you to plug in a space heater inside the cabin.
-DP

Funny you say that. I was going to ask john when I stopped in later today. He's been very helpful this fall/winter while I've been away on several work trips. Is that where your airplane is, or have you gotten it back from FAI already.

Brett

Brett,
My plane is parked alongside Jon's plane. It's got a whole bunch of stuff planned for it this winter.
-DP

If you have to pull the cowling, does that plug complicate things or is there a cannon plug on the inside?

The plug is actually in the boot cowl. No problem at all removing the cowl.

Spotted this little guy on the ramp today. Me thinks I've seen photos of this airplane parked in a snow covered valley with skis propped against it. I have to take my 1 year old with me anytime I go to Jon's place. He loves the dogs. They were real busy in there today and Jon was out. I'm gonna be out of town for another couple weeks, so no rush. Got the airplane plugged in though. Might actually get the chance to exercise it tomorrow.



Brett

Yep, looks like it did on Tuesday when I was there last. Did you check out the plug on its boot cowl? Jon's handiwork.
-DP

I did and it's on the short list.

Most electrical supply houses sell those recessed plugs and guide lights.

As DP noted, Jon did mine as well, and all our work airplanes had them. When you're overnighting in Fort Yukon, it's nice to be able to just cruise by the airport in the evening, and see that little guide light glowing. If it's not, someone unplugged you, so plug it back in....

MTV

Yet again, thanks Mike. My plug is mounted on top of the oil cooler from the previous owner. It's a bitch to plug in when I want and I can't tell if the juice is getting there without opening the engine cover. An engine cover that I got made an extra 6 inches longer because of you recommendation in a previous thread.

Sorry in advance for the drift, but why the extra 6" on the cover?

A1Skinner wrote:Sorry in advance for the drift, but why the extra 6" on the cover?

Because for some reason, every engine cover manufacturer ends their covers such that the entire outflow of the pressure cowl (the bottom aft opening of the cowling) is WIDE open. To me, it doesn't make much sense to dump a bunch of heat into a compartment that's wide open to the elements....I guess the manufacturers assume that all airplanes have cowl flaps you can close. Look at a bunch of engine covers, and you'll see what I mean.

Second reason: Your instruments actually reside up under that boot cowl to some extent. So having a cowl cover that insulates all the way back to the windshield helps to trap at least some heat on the back sides of the instruments. Any warmth you can convey to those instruments will help dramatically with wear and tear on them. Winter and instruments are'nt friends.

MTV