vents in windshield

[Sonex1414]

Before I drill a 2 inch hole in my windshield, I thought I would check with anyone that has already done this. If you put the small round vents in your windshield, how do you like them? Do they work as advertised? Would you do it again? Would you change what you did? Where did you locate them? The ones I got from Aircraft Spruce show a speed limit of 125 knots. Has anyone used these and exceeded 125 knots? What happened? Thanks for whatever help you can give.

Tom

[jaywa]

I put the smaller vents in ( around 1" ) from aircraft spruce- works well. Like you I was concerned about the radius of bend over 2 " which may interfere with the vent funcionality

[wlarson861]

I have the 2 inch "Snap Vent" in the lower aft corners of the wind shield. They provide a lot of air and have not had any problems with them.

[radfordc]

Has anyone used these and exceeded 125 knots? What happened?

Yes, up to 190 mph. Nothing happened.

[fastj22]

I assume to install these vents you just use a 2 inch hole saw? Nothing special to keep from cracking the lexan?

[LarryEWaiex121]

I've got the two inch snap vents in my Waiex and I just installed them with a hole saw and slow careful cutting to make certain not the chatter and skip off the hole once started. Went pretty smooth.
As for the speed limit..........well, I guess I never read that memo. My Waiex has been up to VNE over two dozen times and never an issue with the snap vents. Normal decents from altitude in smooth air is keeps the airspeed in the 160 mph at 400 fpm decent rate. I guess if there was going to be a problem, I'd have known about it by now since its up to 385 hrs in under three years time.

[corton]

Tom, I dunno from where you hail, but I'm in the DFW area. I, too, was intrigued by the snap vents, but even Sonex themselves said that for TX they'd recommend a different solution.

I settled on the Van's RV-10 rear seat / RV-12 front seat flip-out vents - kind of like the ones you see on Cessna's. I get a lot of air movement, yet they don't disturb the charts. I have mine a few inches below the windshield just in front of the front spar channel. Positioned so that there's no interference with flaps or brake handles.

[radfordc]

If I do it again I will use the largest size snap vent I can find...3 1/2" I think. The smaller ones help but more air is better in the summer.

[fastj22]

I already have two NACA vents with 1 inch eyeball vents attached. They are below and forward of my panel and blow on my legs. I'd like a little more air now so thinking of adding these 2 inch before heading to OSH.