Shielding results....

I took about four hours Sunday to fully shield the kill switch wires that come from the magneto coils AND the lighting circuit coil leads that come from the engine. Where I couldn't get the coil connectors through the braid (it's 1/2" diameter) I split it down the side and secured it with wire ties. Where the connectors joined, I just spiral wrapped them with the flat braid and secured with wire ties. It doesn't look that great, but I guess I can live with it. It might look better now if I wrap it all (neatly) with black vinyl tape.

The results? I took her up for about a 20 minute test flight after I was done. I couldn't tell any difference at all! When I landed and shut off the engine, I had an epiphany. I decided to check the radio at that time. I pushed the push-to-talk switch and before I said anything, I could hear my engine cooling off! You know, the little ping-ping-ping that metal things make when they go from hot to cool? Then I listened a bit more with an open mic. I heard birds, insects and infinitesimal mouth noises that I never would have thought the mic would have picked up.

So my noise is that of my engine, and prop, and cooling fan, and wind noise, all going into my mic. Not sure how to take care of this. I ordered a MicMuff foam/leather cover for my mic from Oregon Aero. I read all the testimonials and "why MicMuff works" stuff on their site. They suckered me for $12 plus shipping for a total of $18.50. I didn't check into their return policy, but they certainly won't cover shipping either way, so to try it out and return it would cost me at least $13, so no matter how well it works, I guess I'll keep it. Of course I'll post the results when I try it out.

Oh yeah, one more thing, not that it makes a difference to anybody...IT'S MY BIRTHDAY! Big 43!