Aviation Performance Products Cowl

[Daniel Haumesser]

Has anyone recently installed a new cowl on their 250 from Aviation Performance Products? My cowl is in desperate need of replacement and from what I've found, APP is the only option for new. They also seem to have a heck of a deal. New cowl, dual exhaust and complete new baffles all installed for 16K.

I'd be interested in hearing reviews from anyone who has had that done through them.

Dan

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

I have been happy with mine on my 180. Big improvement over my old cowl that needed major surgery every 25 hrs or so...
-Zach

[Don Nelson]

I've been satisfied with the full package as you describe.
Some finish and installation concerns to caution them on, but my 250's appearance and performance certainly benefitted from it. Also from a later 3-blade McCauley, and later still a thicker one piece w/s. Most recently it's been JAS wing tips and strobes.
No end to what you can do to a 250 to modernize and make this great airplane even better.

Having said that, now I've just gone and bought a Twin and get to start over!
Best, Don

[Daniel Haumesser]

Thanks for the reply's. I'm very excited and anxious to get this done. A perfect reason for a nice trip to the Tampa area as well!!!!

As everyone knows, Lopresti only makes the cowl for the 260. They used to make one for the 250 but stopped for whatever reason. Out of curiousity, I asked them the price and was shocked what they were asking for just the cowl, not including installation. I'm sure its a fine product but wow!!

I already have the McCauley Three blade and one piece windshield. Looking forward to my first flight with my shiny new cowl! Right now, there are so many patches that I'm running out of places to put rivets.

Dan

[kflyer]

I had mine installed Oct. 2009. My 59' 250 looks much better and definately burns less fuel and gets up to cruise faster. 16k installed and took about a month to complete. Highly recommended for sure. -Kevin

[tomburke1]

I did a test flight with Dave Pratt in his Comanche a few years ago. I wrote a report on it and even thought the specifics escape me now, as I remember it was a good product. Dave seemed a good sort to deal with.

All in all, if I needed a cowling I would purcase his based on my experience.

[Patrick Arnold]

I sent a note to David Pratt asking him these questions. I just sent it the other day so I've not heard back yet. I've got to get my 260B painted this year and would really like to do this upgrade as well. Any ideas on these?

1. Do you have any high resolution pictures of your cowl on a 260B?
2. What happens to the oil cooler, does that get moved?
3. Do you use the stock/OEM air intake alignment, etc or is that modified?
4. How do the nose gear doors actually actuate?
5. It looks like the nose gear doors are longer --are they?
6. What is the weight difference btwn your cowl and the factory one?
7. What is your lead time for an EagleXP cowl and how long does it take you to install one?
8. How soon after can the cowling be painted? Does the fiberglass need time to cure?

Pat Arnold

[tomburke1]

I think you might have misunderstood my post Pat.

I did not install the Eagle Cowl. I met with Dave Pratt and he gave me a demo flight in his airplane with the cowl on it. It has been a while and I don't have the report I wrote but in general I felt it was a pretty good product.

The questions you asked are best answered by Dave. You can reach him at his shop ,in Melbourne Fl. His number is 321-254-2880.

From my experience with Dave I can say he is a pretty straight shooter... Maybe not always right on everything but generally right on most things. The little business I did with him left me with a good opinion of him and his business. I found him to be a man of his word.

[Patrick Arnold]

Hi Tom,

I was actually just asking a more general set of questions given Daniel's original post. I did hear back from Dave Pratt on my questions and can post them here if folks are interested.

Pat

[tomburke1]

It might be a good idea for you to post the answers from Dave here as others mightn be interested.
Have you made a decision ?

[Patrick Arnold]

Tom-

I've not made a decision but for me it possibly makes good sense. "Justifying" it with the CFO of my house will likely be the challenge. I like the performance gains, I like the looks, and I like the idea that you can remove the top cowling and not mess up the paint. On the Piper setup it would drive me nuts to have a freshly painted plane, and then when it came time to separate the top of the cowling from the nosebowl, inadvertently scratch up the newly painted surface. Perhaps others are better at this removal/installation than I am but even with two people I've found this to be problematic.

What I find interesting here is Dave's use of a few 260C/400/Twin parts.

Anyway, here are Dave's answers to my questions (hope you don't mind me sharing these Dave!):

1. Do you have any high resolution pictures of your cowl on a 260B?
Ans: No I do Not!

2. What happens to the oil cooler, does that get moved?
Ans; The oil cooler is relocated to the left rear firewall in the same location as installed in the 260C model Comanche.

3. Do you use the stock/OEM air intake alignment, etc or is that modified?
Ans; We use your stock air cleaner assembly and mounting bulkhead out of your stock cowling.

4. How do the nose gear doors actually actuate?
Ans; The nose gear door retract mechanism is the identical one that is used in the 260C,400 and twin Comanche's.

5. It looks like the nose gear doors are longer --are they?
Ans; Yes, The nose gear doors are full length doors that close up the nose wheel well opening when the gear is retracted.

6. What is the weight difference btwn your cowl and the factory one?
Ans; The Eagle XP Cowling installation is 4-6 pounds lighter than the stock aluminum cowling. It is 25 pounds lighter than the competition's cowling installation.

7. What is your lead time for an EagleXP cowl and how long does it take you to install one?
Ans; We need approximately 3-4 weeks lead time before you aircraft arrives for the installation to build the cowling kit.

8. How soon after can the cowling be painted? Does the fiberglass need time to cure?
Ans; The cowling can be painted immediately after installation if you desire. I suggest though that the aircraft be flown several times to let the cowling go through the heating and cooling cycles so that it takes a good set before painting. The cowling has a gel coat finish and can be painted with a two part epoxy primer prior to being installed on the aircraft.

Note: We need approximately 3-4 weeks for the Eagle XP Cowling Installation.

Pat Arnold