I am training with a CSIP as the insurance requires it. Your point about FIKI and the Icing course isn't something I was aware of. Thanks much for making note of that. Will talk to my CSIP about that right away.

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement Tony!

Hopefully these pictures come out. I have been in icing a couple of times and the Cirrus FIKI does very well as long as you have it running a few minutes prior to needing it. Definitely an "anti-ice" vs. "de-ice" system. These ice accumulations are typical for a few minutes in moderate (or worse) icing levels.

The SR22T is an awesome aircraft, have fun!

Don, if you want an all-weather, single engine piston airplane, this is as good as it gets IMO. I love the TKS system and I dont think a hot wing or boots comes close to keeping ice off like it does. When you get one, I'd love a ride!

I agree James. We did a LONG trip yesterday through lotsa ice and the system performed like a champ (see next post). Consider the ride given if I end up getting one...

I decided to use some of the extra hours needed for the insurance requirement towards flying Angel Flight trips. I flew my first one yesterday for this little burn victim Kara. Such a sweetheart and was a great honor to fly her for her treatment.

The mission involved (4) stops, (4) actual approaches into MVFR / IFR conditions with light to moderate icing. Trip was KTOL - KCHO - KLUK - KFFT - KTOL which is roughly 900nm. We left in the morning and I was back home by dinner time. The Cirrus performed flawlessly and handled the icing conditions like a champ. With norm, high and max flow rate options, you have the ability to change the settings based on conditions and rate of accretion. We used high mode a couple of times in moderate ice and never accumulated ice on the protected surfaces. IIRC we had enough fluid to run in high mode for over 2 hours. TKS fluid was also readily available at each of our stops, so we topped off each time.

I'm even more in love with the bird now after seeing how easy it is to handle trips like this.

Pics...





If you look carefully, you can see the streaks of TKS fluid running along the surface of the wing. You prime the system and get a nice even coating on the entire airframe prior to heading into icing conditions. In this case, we activated the system about 10 minutes prior to descent into the layer you see in the photo.

Wow, TKS is better than heated wings?

I can't say for sure because I have never used TKS.

What I can say is heated wings never run out of fluid, can be used as deice or anti ice, don't make a mess of the airplane and work really well!

Yeah I think that's a stretch touting TKS above hot wings...

Sorry I should have been more specific. I think TKS is better because it slings fluid all over the fuselage and the hot wing doesnt do that. As for the leading edge of the wing, I think the heated wing is more effective.

Please believe that I'm not trying to be snarky here--but I have a question. These photos are all oriented 90 degrees off, and I see this often on this and similar boards. I assume these photos were taken with a iPhone; Android phones apparently know what their orientation is when you take a photo, and as a result, in my experience photos are always oriented correctly. Is this not the case with iPhones? Or is something else causing these mis-oriented photos?

[Edit--talking about the first set by Ron Reckrodt.]

Sorry about the photos. I didn't actually take the pictures so can't answer your question. I bet there is a way to fix orientation when posting but I'm not that smart yet since this was my first attempt at posting pics.

Don,

Another option is a Mooney Ovation or Acclaim with TKS. It's a screamer and will do the job as well or better than the Cirrus.

Chuck

Are these both FIKI birds?

Mike,

They can/are both FIKI if set up that way from factory or CAV. For FIKI two batteries and two pumps are required. I might be missing something else. Works well but as others have said, the real purpose is time to escape. I believe the Mooney long bodies lose approx. 3-7 KTAS with the addition of TKS to the aircraft. That is speed before TKS and after install. For me in the Midwest or north it's only way to outfit the aircraft if your wanting a year round bird.
Chuck

Chuck...thanks for the clarification. I also live in the Midwest and my SR22 has TKS but it is not FIKI. In my world, this means more limited winter flying, not filing unless I can avoid expected or known ice, and having an out for the typical Airmet for Moderate Icing we see almost every day this time of year.

Having been in ice many times in 40 years and 10+ airplanes, including 3 Barons, I don't like it and have come to respect the limitations of my TKS system which only has 60 min endurance on the "normal" pump speed and 30 minutes in the "maximum" speed and ASSUMING my reservoir started with the full 3 gallons. That is NOT a lot of time for many intended flights and often widespread potential for ice.

TKS is, however, an excellent and effective system for an inadvertent icing encounter, but should not been considered, IMO, as a near equivalent to a FIKI certified system which has a much larger reservoir, systems redundancy and fluid level monitoring.

Chuck, the Mooneys would be good fits as well and I've considered them. However, the little lady has grown very, very fond of the idea of the CAPS. She's even talking about wanting to ships bags if needed and take the Cirrus on family trips instead of the Seenca. I doubt that will happen but I'm now in a place in my flying career where it's either SR22, piston twin or turbine.