Paul Lamar wrote:

There is a structural problem with these venetian blind cowl flaps
and a wide but short fore and aft horizontal rad
under the engine. The aero loads can cause bending and perhaps flutter.
You can make a fairly thick streamline shape and cover it with carbon
fiber and hinge it on the ends or you can use piano hinges and sheet
metal. The piano hinges can be fastened to the rad itself to support
the flaps along their leading edges as in this rendering of just
one segment.

Why not put the adjustable cowl flaps on the other side (engine side) of the
radiator?  They'll restrict airflow just as effectively on that side, and won't
be hanging out in the breeze.

Russell Kent

In theory you get a bit of thrust that offsets the cooling drag when
the hot air is allowed to squirt aft.

Paul Lamar
 
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