Towplane engines

Anyone know of an STC that puts water-cooled cylinders on existing engines?

No, but IIRC, there was someone posting in rec.aviation.homebuilt awhile back that was doing an oil-cooled cylinder for STC. Don't remember any more than that.

Tim Ward

Hi,

I don't know anything about this company, but check out: http://www.liquidcooledairpower.com/products.shtml

Paul Remde

For me and anybody else who has spent a couple thousand hours nervously watching CHT's and oil temps climb toward the red on tow, or frantically trying to get a couple of jugs on the towplane changed before the start of business tomorrow, that's pretty exciting stuff. 195 hp out of a Lyc O-360 without a meltdown doesn't sound bad either. I wonder if knowing the number of towplanes out here with O-320's and O-540's would change these folks' thoughts on certification, or whether SSA's tech. and gov't liason committees could help bring STC's within reach. thanks for the link, Paul.

Cheers,

I've spoken with the principals at Liquid Air Power about the tug application and they are fully aware that this is a perfect application for their cylinders. They told me that they would enthusiastically support a STC for a Lyc 0-540 in a Pawnee or a 0-360 in a Supercub. They see it as a way to prove the durability increase that liquid cooling provides.

Bill Daniels

I don't know that it'd pay off on the Pawnees. I never had any cooling problems on 235hp Pawnees, and haven't operated 260hp Pawnees below 5,000'msl. Never had to replace a shock-cooled jug on a Pawnee, either, and always presumed that was because of the more moderate cht's (and having a smaller pool of towpilots operating them, too). Fuel consumption was always a factor, though. If liquid cooling

level, that alone would pay off the $15,000 kit cost over less than 2,500 hours. As to the Cubs, it was unusual for us to cook fewer than 4 jugs (all on the back pads) in a 2,000 hour TBO. The $12,000 kit contains most of a top overhaul (exc. pistons, rings, wrist pin busings, and honing). Add in a shock-cooled jug or two, and the fuel savings (they claim 38%) and productivity improvements at 195hp would easily amortize the kit cost during the course of a TBO. Let's do it!

Cheers,