I just received a Tams pipe for my first Lightning, which I am refurbing. He offers two -- one is an exact replacement and the other is made for larger engines than the 160 or Rhino. Thought some of you would be interested.

The stock pipe weighs 1 pound, 5 ounces. Tams pipe weighs 15 ounces, for a savings of 6 ounces. My weight and balance calcs show this should save approximately 4 ounces of nose weight, for a total weight reduction of 10 ounces.

The construction of the pipe is excellent. It was an exact match to the original in length, but the diameter was slightly larger and I needed to minimally enlarge the cutout in the aft former. Exit diameter on both pipes was 85 MM, but the Tams pipe was 90 MM at the bypass end while the original was 85 MM. The original used bolts and standoffs for pipe spacing at either end with an accordian wrap in the center, while Tams pipe uses an accordian wrap in three spots. The lack of bolts and standoffs is a plus as there is one less thing to come apart.

Installation was very simple. The three tabs that attach the pipe to the aft former are actually on a sliding ring, so they will adapt easily to an existing installation. The outer pipe fit nicely over the rear of the bypass, and the pipe is secured to this piece with two tabs and two screws.

I do not have the instrumentation to do a thrust check, but a reliable source did pull tests on the original and Tams pipe and came up with a three pound increase in thrust. All in all, I am satisfied with the purchase.