On my first Alaska trip, some locals in Gulkana turned me on to the Northern Companion. It weighs only 6 lbs, burns just about any kind of gas (I use white gas), and heats up my Piper Lance from stone cold to around 50F in 45 to 90 minutes – about the same time it takes to load, preflight, and clean the surfaces of snow and frost. It collapses into a very small package and only requires the same amount of gas as a backpacking cooking stove (one of its component parts).
I have ever since been a 4-season pilot without the concerns of the excessive wear caused by starting the airplane with gooey oil. It doubles as a camp stove when I camp by the plane.
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I bought one with out instructions, maybe you can help me. I need a run down on the lighting instructions. Also what is the M shaped wire brackets for, and the heavy tin foil. Do you run yours wide open or full blast all the time.
It’s essentially just a white gas stove. The M shaped brackets are only used if you are cooking with it.
To light: Fill the gas battle about 3/4 full; Pump it up (about 5-10 strokes); crack it open just a bit to let some gas dribble out onto the lighting wick theh close the gas; light the standing gas and let the unit heat up; once you hear the hiss of the burning vaporized gas (or before the flame goes out) turn the gas on; insert the lit stove into the chimney.
I generally run it full blast for 30-60 minutes, pumping it about 5 times every few minutes. Be careful not to expose it to your engine compartment until the large orange flame has burned down and you only see the blue gas. Closing the cowl flaps and puting a sleeping bag or blanket over the top of the engine will help spped up the process.
You will be amazed at how easy it is to start a pre-heated engine!