Engine air filters

[Rctintin]

I was at my field today, and it has been recently cut and bailed for hay. On first take off, I had loads of dust and fine grass 'bits' flying up under the blades, so I wasted no time in getting her air bourne. I flew 4 tanks worth of flying, and was amazed just how much dust was all over the heli and especially the engine. I spent the next 20 min with wet wipes and dry blue roll cleaning all the dust off.

My concern is, how much crap got sucked into the motor? When I raced RC cars, you always used good quality air filters. Are they ever used on Heli's? I know gassers use them.

Think I may take a watering can up there next time, and water the pad first.

[nightstalker]

Long time ago i used to get a small bit of tights material and put over the carb and use a tie-wrap and it used to work well.
Dont really do it any more though

[MartinH]

Just wondering the same thing actualy. Ive taken the engine out of the 600 and relized on the carb theres no air filter which I thought was strange so had a little panic thinking id lost it but relized there isnt one lol.

[ChrisB]

The audacity models pantera 50 used an airfilter system I can only assume it's not widely used as they will rob the engine of power

[Tim Procter]

If filters were available for these heli engines I would be the first to buy some.

Frightening the stuff that gets sucked in to them.

[Jamin_00]

Engine air filters

You can get filters for the 50-90 size engines I found ages ago on some American site.
They stretch over the carb

Might have been Rons Heli proz not sure but I will look later when back yfrom the field.

[acwman]

I recall when I used to fly Vario that they do various air filters for engines. Ranging from a rubber cup fit to aluminum ones with a mesh.

..here are some on vario site

[Mart61]

Is there no danger of the airflow into the carb being impeded by a filter?

[acwman]

Is there no danger of the airflow into the carb being impeded by a filter?

As ChrisB said, it would rob engine of power, and would tend to agree with him, as it could impede the breathing of the engine slightly.

I doubt learning, circuits or mild sports flying you will notice the difference.

[Mart61]

Cheers Andy. Having said that, I guess the flow could also be impeded by whatever is being ingested, not to speak of the damage the ingested material is doing to the engine internals.

I guess it's a case of weighing up which is the lesser of the two evils.

[Smoothound]

The ones that are available are more FOD's than filters. On most helis a tru filter just wouldn't fit and to make one fit you'd need an extended and convoluted pipe which would interfere with the intake pulse(think that's what they all it) and screw up the power.

[Mojo]

Saw these on Midland's website the other day and was thinking the same thing.. Are these what we are talking about here?

8th, 9th and 10th items down the page..
Midland Helicopters Ltd VarAccs_JP

[electricsceadu]

Saw these on Midland's website the other day and was thinking the same thing.. Are these what we are talking about here?

8th, 9th and 10th items down the page..
Midland Helicopters Ltd VarAccs_JP

i fitted them to a hyper in a sceadu
and an os61 in a vario skyfox that the carb faced towards the ground

they lasted 1/4 of a tank of fuel before i took them off
the engines wouldn't tune

and not all gassers have filters