HXG Posted July 23, 2019 Report Posted July 23, 2019 https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2019/july/22/lycoming-announces-new-electronic-ignition-system 2 Quote
Yetti Posted July 23, 2019 Report Posted July 23, 2019 Grumble. the whole benefit to Electronic is the ability to advance and retard the ignition based on what is being asked of the engine. Grumble 3 Quote
HXG Posted July 23, 2019 Author Report Posted July 23, 2019 7 minutes ago, Yetti said: Grumble. the whole benefit to Electronic is the ability to advance and retard the ignition based on what is being asked of the engine. Grumble True. A lot more benefit would come beyond fixed timing. But, hopefully a long overdue step in that direction. Maybe wishful thinking. Quote
DXB Posted July 23, 2019 Report Posted July 23, 2019 25 minutes ago, Yetti said: Grumble. the whole benefit to Electronic is the ability to advance and retard the ignition based on what is being asked of the engine. Grumble Grumble Grumble +1. Wish E-mag would hurry up. Internal power independent of ship's electrical system, variable timing, replaces both mags. Talk of them certifying started 400 hours/3.5 years ago ago last time I IRAN'd my mags. I figured the next time IRAN was due, I would be replace them with E-mags. Probably not gonna happen. 2 Quote
takair Posted July 23, 2019 Report Posted July 23, 2019 2 hours ago, Yetti said: Grumble. the whole benefit to Electronic is the ability to advance and retard the ignition based on what is being asked of the engine. Grumble I’ve been flying the SureFly with advance and retard timing for a couple of months now. Works great. This is simply rebranded SureFly. Quote
McMooney Posted July 23, 2019 Report Posted July 23, 2019 17 minutes ago, takair said: I’ve been flying the SureFly with advance and retard timing for a couple of months now. Works great. This is simply rebranded SureFly. My mags are due in about 50 hrs been really thinking of getting a surefly. do you actually notice any difference ? how about fuel burn? Quote
HXG Posted July 23, 2019 Author Report Posted July 23, 2019 I would also be interested in hearing current Surefly PIREPS. Quote
takair Posted July 24, 2019 Report Posted July 24, 2019 (edited) Well, I see a difference but can’t quantify it because I don’t have fuel flow and haven’t done any long trips where I get some numbers for fuel consumption. Starts are about the same as a well kept shower of sparks. My base timing was 20 degrees, so the advance is notable. There is a graph on their web site. I don’t notice a difference in top speed since the advance doesn’t kick in at high power. What I do seem to notice is that it holds speed at slightly lower power settings. I’ll pay more attention, but it feels like the advance is worth the the equivalent of 1” manifold pressure. The EGTs are notably lower when the advance kicks in. The downside for many will be CHT, which run hotter. For me, it works out ok, as my E always ran cool. In fact, it was rare that all 4 cylinders would break 300. Now, in the summer, it seems to average near 330 and gets hotter in a climb. So, on average it seems to have increased 30 degrees in cruise while running ROP. From short LOP runs it seems similar. Oh, and there is a subtle difference in the engine tone...maybe a slightly deeper rumble. All said, I was ready to do overhaul or replace both mags and the price vs new was comparable, so far I am satisfied. Edited July 24, 2019 by takair Had advance and retard backwards 2 Quote
Ragsf15e Posted July 24, 2019 Report Posted July 24, 2019 21 hours ago, takair said: Well, I see a difference but can’t quantify it because I don’t have fuel flow and haven’t done any long trips where I get some numbers for fuel consumption. Starts are about the same as a well kept shower of sparks. My base timing was 20 degrees, so the advance is notable. There is a graph on their web site. I don’t notice a difference in top speed since the advance doesn’t kick in at high power. What I do seem to notice is that it holds speed at slightly lower power settings. I’ll pay more attention, but it feels like the advance is worth the the equivalent of 1” manifold pressure. The EGTs are notably lower when the advance kicks in. The downside for many will be CHT, which run hotter. For me, it works out ok, as my E always ran cool. In fact, it was rare that all 4 cylinders would break 300. Now, in the summer, it seems to average near 330 and gets hotter in a climb. So, on average it seems to have increased 30 degrees in cruise while running ROP. From short LOP runs it seems similar. Oh, and there is a subtle difference in the engine tone...maybe a slightly deeper rumble. All said, I was ready to do overhaul or replace both mags and the price vs new was comparable, so far I am satisfied. How about cost/difficulty? Was power from the battery difficult to work through the interior? Quote
takair Posted July 24, 2019 Report Posted July 24, 2019 31 minutes ago, Ragsf15e said: How about cost/difficulty? Was power from the battery difficult to work through the interior? I had a problem with the gear so I ended up doing some extra work. I think we have a thread here with details and maybe pictures. Beyond that it was quite easy. Running the wire was the most time consuming. Not hard, just tedious. Once everything came together, it is honestly easier than installing a mag. 1 Quote
DXB Posted July 30, 2019 Report Posted July 30, 2019 I spoke to E-mag's founder at the end of Oshkosh, asked him when his mags would be STC'd for certified planes. He sighed, then said something to the effect of maybe in a year or two if he managed to live a clean and austere life. I suspect he doesn't plan to do that. I'm gonna have to consider the Surefly in 2020 when my mags will be due for service 1 Quote
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