Stewart Warner Heater

How to keep the Cessna 170 flying and airworthy.

Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher

Post Reply
User avatar
dstates
Posts: 472
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:50 pm

Stewart Warner Heater

Post by dstates »

Hello 170 fans.

I bought my 170A in July and am just starting my first annual inspection (owner assisted). So far all I’ve done is remove inspection panels, cowling and seats. But I’ve learned something new about my plane already. I’m not sure how I missed the two large holes in the skin on the bottom of the plane, but apparently my 170A had a Stewart Warner heater at one point. After I removed the rear seat I saw the floor had a big panel screwed down. I was a little worried at first since it is quite a large opening. Since then I double checked my hunch and the parts catalog shows a heater was optional below the rear seat.

I’m attaching pictures just to share with others. Does anyone have a picture of one of these heaters still installed? I’m guessing that it must have protruded above the floor below the rear seat. I’m curious.

I’ll probably have my A&P add a couple patches to the bottom skin to close up the holes. Any special tips for patching these two holes?

When I’m back at the hangar I’ll have to look and see where the Tee in the fuel line is and make sure it is good to go.

Doug
3912D5D0-C7BC-4C05-A375-E8D38399EB71.jpeg
D129EB09-BF32-4DD9-829E-27D9CE6D307F.jpeg
F8E0E2F0-3DF5-4AE6-9D73-181B9C267E9B.jpeg
BC56D4B2-CAF8-42BC-926D-259899C8ED6B.jpeg
AF3867C0-ABCB-42DF-AA55-80132C9A61FD.png
N1235D - 1951 170A - SN: 20118
User avatar
c170b53
Posts: 2527
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 8:01 pm

Re: Stewart Warner Heater

Post by c170b53 »

Thanks for the pics, I’ve never seen one myself anywhere!
Jim McIntosh..
1953 C170B S/N 25656
02 K1200RS
User avatar
eskflyer
Posts: 84
Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2019 1:48 pm

Re: Stewart Warner Heater

Post by eskflyer »

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0829 ... MBLE8FUWBW

This is the heater we are using in alot of our UHHHHHHH rigs. self contained and works great. Have one set up for preheat and one in side by side , have them on my boat and in the other rig that levatates :D .
Puts out 17000 BTU's. thermostat controlled hooks up to 12 volt. 4 hoses to run where you want heat. or can get one with 1 nozzle about a 3" i believe.
AA16, SHORTWING and SPAMCAN FLYER, JP
hilltop170
Posts: 3481
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 6:05 pm

Re: Stewart Warner Heater

Post by hilltop170 »

I have never seen one in a 170 but this is one installed in a C-195 which is probably about the same installation. They work very well and throw out lots of heat. I have never had a problem with mine but there is a two year inspection AD on some of them.

If you have any desire to install another one, Aircraft Heating and Electric in Redding, CA has all the required parts and can supply a rebuilt unit. Be sitting down when they quote the price. 8O

If the picture is oriented wrong, click on the picture and it should right itself.
Southwind heater in C-195
Southwind heater in C-195
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
User avatar
IA DPE
Posts: 208
Joined: Fri Nov 10, 2017 1:46 am

Re: Stewart Warner Heater

Post by IA DPE »

hilltop170 wrote:If you have any desire to install another one, Aircraft Heating and Electric in Redding, CA has all the required parts and can supply a rebuilt unit. Be sitting down when they quote the price. 8O
I saw on a -195 site that they’re $13,000??

Glad I own a -170 with a good heater 8)
1955 C170B N2993D s/n 26936
1986 DG-400 N9966C
User avatar
GAHorn
Posts: 20967
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Re: Stewart Warner Heater

Post by GAHorn »

IA DPE wrote:
hilltop170 wrote:If you have any desire to install another one, Aircraft Heating and Electric in Redding, CA has all the required parts and can supply a rebuilt unit. Be sitting down when they quote the price. 8O
I saw on a -195 site that they’re $13,000??

Glad I own a -170 with a good heater 8)
It’d be cheaper to buy heated socks and long johns if you don’t have a later B-model.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
User avatar
170C
Posts: 3182
Joined: Tue May 06, 2003 11:59 am

Re: Stewart Warner Heater

Post by 170C »

A friend of mine replaced his gas fired heater in his Navion a couple of yrs ago. Think it was a Southwind, but can't remember for sure. $5,000.
OLE POKEY
170C
Director:
2012-2018
User avatar
mit
Posts: 1049
Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 1:54 am

Re: Stewart Warner Heater

Post by mit »

Sometimes when It is 20 or more below like now, I have thought; boy one of those would be nice. :?
Tim
prairiechicken
Posts: 32
Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2017 8:38 am

Re: Stewart Warner Heater

Post by prairiechicken »

I have a poor picture of the aux heater in my '51 170A. I will have to send it to Bruce though, as I am not sharp enough to get the file size correct.
20191206_162604.jpg
Ty Richter
1712D
User avatar
dstates
Posts: 472
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:50 pm

Re: Stewart Warner Heater

Post by dstates »

Thanks, Ty!
N1235D - 1951 170A - SN: 20118
User avatar
bsdunek
Posts: 425
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2004 6:42 pm

Re: Stewart Warner Heater

Post by bsdunek »

I remember the South Wind heaters back in the 50's. The dealer in Pontiac, Ken Barbar, had one in his 195. Went with him one very cold winter day. The plane was warm inside before we got to the runway. Really worked great.
Bruce
1950 170A N5559C
User avatar
ghostflyer
Posts: 1390
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:06 am

Re: Stewart Warner Heater

Post by ghostflyer »

Just before the Cody convention , I had a massive clean out of the hangar and it looks like a couple of those Stewert Warner heaters were thrown out with another type called Janertrol heater. They are not used in this part of the world and the Janertrol came out of a shrike 500 . They only add weight . I think the overhaul price on the Janertrol made the owners eyes water too much and he wanted the savings on the weight saving.
User avatar
GAHorn
Posts: 20967
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Re: Stewart Warner Heater

Post by GAHorn »

Janitrol. And some of the Janitrol heaters have AD notes on them with regard to leak-testing the burner can. (Using a vacuum cleaner and soap/foam and blow air to see where the bubbles appear.).

My ‘62 Baron had one of the early ones with a heavy cast burner can which was not subject to the AD, but the later sheet-metal burners had the AD, if I recall correctly.

Some DC3’s had Southwind heaters and pop-singer Ricky Nelson was killed in a fiery crash of his DC3 and neer-do-well people spread the rumor he’d started the cabin fire in-flight by free-basing cocaine.
It was a fake story. The Southwind heater was the cause of the fire which killed everyone.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
User avatar
170C
Posts: 3182
Joined: Tue May 06, 2003 11:59 am

Re: Stewart Warner Heater

Post by 170C »

The rudder of that ill fated DC-3 hangs in the large hangar at Air Salvage Dallas near Lancaster, TX (KLNC).
OLE POKEY
170C
Director:
2012-2018
Post Reply