Since I do not quite yet know how to deal with the cooling air conundrum, I
am moving on to something else. A while ago, I ordered and received
the IVO Magnum in-flight adjustable prop for installation on the plane.
Up to now, the beautiful black composite prop sat in the corner of the shop.Now is as good a time as ever to try a fit on the plane. As you can see, it fits and looks great as you can see on the below photo.
Now, a bit of advise for those trying this at home. WEIGH THE NOSE
DOWN. By now, with the engine and all the other goodies in the back of
the plane installed, the plane should be ready to assume the take-off
attitude on its own. Now, you might think, if it starts to tip back,
then I hold it up while I take the prop off and the nose will go down.
Well, good theory but it doesn't work that way. Once the weight of the
prop is on the prop bolt and the nose is starting to rise, the friction will
cause it not to slide off as easily as it did going in. Additionally,
your efforts to pull the prop off will decidedly counteract your other
intention of keeping the nose down. Remember, the aircraft pivots
around the main wheel that is on the floor. Your pulling on points any
higher than that on the rear of the aircraft will have the effect of raising
the nose further. As the aircraft pivots, the weight of the engine
very quickly shifts back and (you guessed it) onto you. Unless you
routinely bench-press 600lb, you will not win this tug-of-war.Now, you ask "How do you know this?" As you might suspected, I made the very mistake. Fortunately, I caught the situation relatively early and had saw horses and other "support" within reach. I count my lucky stars and get the shivers to think what would have happened if I got pinned under.
How much weight do you need? Not a lot. Notice that the arm is considerably longer forward than aft. You can drop a cinder block or two in the cabin and will do nicely.