Definition
Sheet metal pieces fitted around the cylinders of an air-cooled aircraft engine that direct cooling airflow over the cylinder fins, ensuring even cooling and preventing localized overheating.
Plain English
Metal panels around each engine cylinder that force the incoming air to flow exactly where it needs to go to keep the cylinders from getting too hot.
Context Anchor
Seen during engine inspections, preflight checks inside the engine compartment, and maintenance discussions about engine cooling or high cylinder temperatures.
Derivation
The word 'baffle' comes from an old word meaning to block or hinder. In engineering, a baffle is anything that redirects or restricts the flow of a fluid or gas. Here, the baffles redirect cooling air rather than blocking it outright.
Why Pilots Care
Missing or damaged baffles create hot spots that can crack cylinders or cause detonation, directly affecting engine reliability and safety.
Analogy
Think of them like walls in a duct. Without the walls, air takes the easiest path and misses the places that need cooling. With the walls in place, the air is forced through the right route.
Intuition Check
Do not think of cylinder baffles as simple blockers. Their job is to guide cooling air tightly around the cylinders, not just stop air from moving.
Example Sentence 1
During preflight, the pilot noticed a cracked cylinder baffle and had it repaired before the next flight.
Example Sentence 2
During climb the pilot noticed rising CHTs and later found a loose baffle had shifted out of position.