Pilots all over aviation social media have been touting the SureFly Ignition Module (SIM) mag replacement as the electronic ignition system of choice—and for some, it may be the best choice because of its simple installation. (That’s a drop-in SIM mounted next to a traditional mag in the photo to the right.) However, I’ve seen a lot of forum posts from misinformed buyers who simply overlook the additional benefits afforded by the Electroair ignition. (That’s a complete Electroair kit shown in the bottom photo.) One technical aspect focuses on the Electroair’s coil pack and high-energy spark. When I mentioned my more efficient starts, Electroair’s Mike Kobylik reminded me that the EIS 41000 ignition on my Grumman’s Lycoming delivers roughly 70,000 volts to the spark plugs, with a duration of 20 degrees crank rotation.
Moreover, the timing in an Electroair system is varied based on the manifold pressure sensor, which is a good way to measure air volume inside of the cylinder. You need to have both elements—high energy and variable timing—in order to achieve Electroair’s claimed performance gains.