Stage Cooler

Stage cooler assists pilots with cooling their piston-powered engines safely, without the risk of shock-cooling their engine cylinders.  Avoid early, expensive engine overhauls by reducing engine power in small stages.

Experts recommend reducing engine power at a maximum rate of 1” manifold pressure per minute, and a maximum Cylinder Head Temperature reduction of 50 degrees per minute.

The Stage Cooler manages this for you.  It calculates the distance from destination that cooling should begin, then helps you time each interval with audible and visual power change reminders each minute.

Reducing power too quickly will expedite your next engine overhaul.  Cool your engine early and slowly.


WARNING:

Use of this app is at the pilot's risk.  We do not accept responsibility for any loss or damages to the aircraft, its engine, or its contents.


CALCULATION SPECIFICS:

Your cooling distance is calculated using estimates based on book values of several aircraft.  It takes into account the extra speed derived from your descent, as well as the speed lost during the stage cooling process.  Time is calculated based on one minute being required for every inch of manifold pressure that must be shed.  The distance requirement is a basic "speed x time" calculation.  Speed during the stage cooling process is assumed to increase by 0.7% for every 1000 feet of altitude.  The subsequent value is then reduced by 15% to compensate for speed loss from the staged power reductions.