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What determines the shape of the intakes on the cowling on a Rv-7?

I am very interested in building a Rv-7. I have noticed when looking at pictures that some of the cowlings have circular intakes and others have more rectangular intakes. I prefer the rectangular intakes with the single intake on the bottom as well. I do not want to order the kit and get a cowling that I am unhappy with. Can someone explain how the shape of the cowling is determined on a RV-7?

Public Comments

1. The air intakes depend on the engine being used. Also, the builder of the aircraft (that's you) can (and often does) change things to suit his personal tastes. Unlike the shape, say, of the wing, a cowling is easy to modify without affecting anything major.

In this case, I suggest you contact Van's Aircraft and ask them... they may have changed things for some reason along the way, they may offer different cowlings depending on the engine the customer chooses, or one or the other version may be a builder modification.

2. The circular intakes are specially designed to improve cooling and reduce drag. They were designed by Roy LoPresti, a guy who turned the Mooney into the first aircraft that could top 200MPH on 200HP and makes a whole pile of aftermarket speed goodies for aircraft.

All RVs are ordered in parts (tail kit, wing kit, fuselage kit, finish kit, etc) so it is then that you specify which type of cowl you want (typically the finish kit which is usually years down the road). I would imagine the square intakes are the standard ones, the circular ones might have to be procured from somewhere else other than Van's.