The drive is already designed and built, but what parts do you think
might break, Bill?  It's a compressor wheel bolted up to the flywheel. 
Should I expect to see problems with it shedding blades?  I've looked
into the leaf blower components, specifically because they were designed
to run at the RPM we're looking at.  Literally, trying not to reinvent
the wheel.  I'm assuming that they can take the RPM, since it is an
industrial component that workers carry on their backs.

Electric leaf blowers are effective. How many inches of water can you push with one of them? Maybe just a boost for take off? Inverters are cheap.

 

Lynn E. Hanover