| LoPresti Speed Merchants announces
the completion of a new high-tech cowling for the Mooney 201.
The original 201 cowl (1976) was one of several significant modifications
applied to the Mooney Executive in its transformation into the very
efficient and popular 201. Roy LoPresti recalls, “The 201 cowl was
developed without any computer assistance; intuition, experience
and judgment plus a great deal of rigorous flight-testing defined
the cowling change. The cowl change was ‘fine tuned’ in a series
of iterative steps until an acceptable gain in speed was attained.
The cowl portion of the original Mooney 201 provided a 6-MPH increase
(out of the total 201 change of 23 MPH).”
Today,
Speed Merchants’ new Super 201 cowl mod for the Mooney 201 has
been computer optimized. The cowl is made with carbon fibers
and features inlets that have been optimized drag-wise for the
201’s horsepower and speed. The cowl has been “slimmed”
down a bit to further reduce drag. Two quick opening access
doors will allow a pilot to inspect the accessory section and
the cylinders. New cowl flaps with better drag shapes help provide
more speed.
Included in the cowl kit are three additional speeds
enhancing components:
The first speed-enhancing component is a special
SCRAM engine induction air inlet. SCRAM is an acronym for
Super Clean Ram Air Mod.
When the ram air valve is opened, a cylindrical duct provides
a smooth obstruction free path directly to the engine injector
(eliminating the stock ram air butterfly valve). Additionally,
when the SCRAM inlet is opened the primary filtered air source
is isolated allowing only the high-pressure ram air to reach the
injector body.
The
second speed-enhancing component is the “Windshield Wedge”, which
provides a smooth, low drag shape between the windshield and the
cowl. Thus, reducing external drag and lowering cockpit
noise levels.
The
third speed-enhancing component is a four-part nose gear door
series of aerodynamic parts. A smooth aerodynamic shape
is molded into the bottom of the cowling, directing the aerodynamic
flow smoothly toward a low drag set of nose gear doors.
The trailing edge of the nose gear doors blend into a low drag
belly fairing, completing the gear door package. The new
nose gear doors are very sturdy, with a tight seal to further
reduce cabin noise.
“Today, almost 30 years after the
201 development was completed, Speed Merchants have applied
their cooling drag expertise to re-optimize the 201 cowl.
The result is a startling cowl PLUS a 7-MPH increase in speed!”
- Roy LoPresti
|
