I have spent a lot of time researching to determine the best method to provide air to the engine. I have an injected engine with a forward-facing fuel servo from Airflow Performance and their paperwork states the best intake air for the servo is unfiltered RAM air.
This decision comes down to two options: filtered intake air or unfiltered intake air. As usual on most topics I've researched, for these two options I found about 30 different opinions each presenting valid points. :)
I do like the look of the "Bearhawk" chin but in a somewhat modified version from what is used on the carburated engines and don't really care a whole lot for the straight round inlet as used on many of the injected aircraft flying right now. This is completely personal preference on the look of the cowling.
However, I do not have a lot of room between my fuel servo and the cowling so some of the "standard" options such as the filter houseing provided by James Aircraft would not work. I did purchase a "Y" tube from Airflow Performance that allowed direct RAM air into the servo but also had the butterfly valve that permitted the ALT AIR to be filtered. The concept was to use ALT AIR during ground operations and unfiltered RAM air in flight. This is quite doable but it does add an additional step for the pilot after takeoff and landing.
In the end, I decided to make a modified chin with a flat panel filter. My decision came down to the cost of the engine purchase and overhaul and my desire to protetect that investment during all phases of flight.
