A huge amount of planning and consultation went into this oil heater concept over some weeks. Special thanks to Wade Parton who is also doing one and these are based on Nick Ugolini’s concept.

Nick uses a ram air intake at the front of the plane, gets the air slowed down and then to a ‘radiator’ or HC (heat exchanger). This exchanger has hot oil from the engines sump via a 4″ standoff pipe (to protect against a low oil situation). The oil is pumped through the HC from an oil pump which is speed controlled. The hot air after being warmed up gets circulated in the cabin.

The RAM effect gives the cockpit pressure a positive compared to outside the plane so hot air tends to leak out rather than cold air leaking in. Usually it is a lower pressure inside the plane so we normally get all those cold air leaks. Got it? Add an on/off valve for the air and thats pretty much it.

I have a landing light up front so no RAM air inlet there. I was thinking the side of the plane but my mate Terry Schubert told me underneath is higher pressure—of course! So my first job was a NACA about next to the landing brake on the bottom of the plane. I sourced one from the RV kitplane people as they are pretty cheap and I have plenty to do as it is! The floor is 2″ thick here so some careful work is needed to get to the outer skin.

Basic Planning

An ‘RV’ plastic NACA

Starting on the hole in the floor