AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 36

PILOT BRIEFING
SUPER CUB SWEEPSTAKES

Wow factor
Engine accessories trick out Sweepstakes
Super Cub's new Lycoming O-320
B Y A LY S S A J. C O B B
THE ENGINE ACCESSORIES Baker Air Service is mating to the
AOPA Sweepstakes Super Cub's new Lycoming O-320 engine will
enhance performance, boost reliability, and make routine maintenance easier for the lucky winner.
Michael Kobylik, president of Electroair, calls the increased
performance from his company's electronic ignition system the
"wow effect." The aircraft will have a keyless starter switch and
the electronic ignition system could save eight-tenths of a gallon
of fuel per hour with the O-320; make the engine run smoother
and start easier, particularly on hot starts; and provide a "little
pickup in power," Kobylik said. The ignition system replaces one
of the traditional magnetos and automatically adjusts the timing
based on air pressure inside the cylinders' combustion chambers
so that the point of combustion will always occur in the sweet
spot, anywhere between 10 and 17 degrees after top dead center,
he explained.
"It's technology that's been used in the automobile industry over
35 years," he said. In addition, Kobylik said the FAA has recognized
that the system increases safety. By having a traditional magneto
and the electronic magneto with dissimilar ignitions, they will never
have the same failure mode. The system also will allow the idle of
the carburetor to be lowered and keep the engine running, ideal for
seaplane operations when pilots routinely run on one magneto on
the water when approaching a dock as slowly as possible.

36 | AOPA PILOT April 2018

Reliability is another key factor for the Super Cub because
of the remote locations and backcountry operations the model is
known for handling. B&C Specialty Products' BC400 alternator
has been popular among Super Cub owners. Nathan Bainbridge,
B&C Specialty Products vice president, said one of the company's
alternators recently lasted 3,500 hours without any overhaul or
repair on a Super Cub in Alaska. The belt-driven alternators usually last 2,000 hours, he said.
Electroair's ignition system and B&C Specialty Products' alternator save about 20 pounds on the Super Cub versus an OEM
starter and generator, said Roger Meggers, who owns Baker,
Montana-based Baker Air Service, which is leading the sweepstakes airplane's restoration.
CONTRIBUTORS
Baker Air Service www.bakerairservice.com
Electroair www.electroair.net
B&C Specialty Products www.bandc.aero
F. Atlee Dodge www.fadodge.com
Airforms Inc. www.airforms.biz
Tanis Aircraft Products www.tanisaircraft.com
Visit the sweepstakes website (www.aopa.org/sweeps) for photos of work on the aircraft and a list of generous contributors.

http://www.bakerairservice.com http://www.electroair.net http://www.bandc.aero http://www.fadodge.com http://www.airforms.biz http://www.tanisaircraft.com http://www.aopa.org/sweeps

AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018

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