SonexBuilders.net

Hi all,
My Sonex has a fire extinguisher installed in front of the flap rod on the passenger side. It would be useful on the ground but if I needed it for an inflight fire I would have to take my harness off and loosen my seatbelt to retrieve it. That I am not willing to do. I am either going to move it to a different spot or remove it. My question is, are others carrying a fire extinguisher?
Thanks,
Ken W
Sonex 959

Ken,
Yes, I have a small one that Jay mounted in front of the flap rod on the pilot side. Could you reach the extinguisher if mounted there? Higher up on the spar enclosure?
If there's a fire in the wires/instruments in the panel, I suppose an extinguisher might be useful in flight (if it didn't go out after turning off the master switch). And I'd be happy to have it if there was a fuel leak and fire inside the cabin. I can't see much use for it in flight if the fire is on the engine side of the firewall--best to let the firewall do its job while I expedite a descent to the nearest safe flat spot. I've wondered if anyone has rigged up a way to use the same extinguisher to address a fire under the cowl, and if such a setup would be worth the weight/hassle. Maybe if one flies a lot over water/solid forest/rocks, etc.

I have a small halon mounted on the floor just forward of the flap rod. I would need to unbuckle to reach it in flight. But my primary reason to have on is a ground incident where I might have a fire and can't extract myself. At that point, I'm out of the harness and trying to save my own bacon.

As for an inflight fire, firewall forward, first thing you would do is cut off the fuel. That would probably extinguish the flames quickly. Not sure an onboard fire suppression system would be of much value.

Thanks for the replies. It seems not many carry an extinguisher onboard. About the time I remove it will be the time that I need it. I might order a smaller 1 lb can instead of carrying the 2.5 lber I have now.

Ken W

I mounted a small one behind the turtle deck bulkhead so I can easily reach it while buckled in.

I mounted a small extinguisher and mount from Aircraft Spruce above the flap rod between my knees. I can unlatch it while sitting strapped in.