Mike, despite “almost” getting into the
engine test phase with the prop, things never went further.
The prop you are referring to actually
got on a 13B engine test stand in South
Carolina. During the initial run, it was found to be
badly out of balance (had never been even statically balanced). When the
individual funding the effort wanted to have a prop manufacturer do the
balancing, the designer balked and the effort eventually came to a halt. The
prop (last I heard) was shipped to Perry Mick who had fabricated the initial
composite blades for the hub. I sent Perry the prototype controller I had
design and built to control the pitch of the prop blades. Rather disappointing
in that the prop hub seemed to have a lot of promise.
Perry might be able to give us an update
if anything is going on with the prop
Ed
From: Rotary motors in aircraft
[mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of Mike Wills
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 3:04
PM
To: Rotary
motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: IVO Prop
No I didnt recall you had an IVO, but did know you had
the Mustang spinner (thanks for the idea). I know at one point there was some
talk of modifying the root section of the IVO by adding cuffs of some
sort. Not a solution for me - that exceeds my comfort level.
There was a group working on a variable pitch prop
over on Paul's list 5 years ago as an alternative to the IVO. I assume nothing
ever came of that? It's been that long since I subscribed to that list.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, March
12, 2009 10:09 AM
Subject: [FlyRotary] IVO
Prop
Have been following this with much interest...........If you may
recall I also have the "IVO"
for my "DELTA" and from previous posts (Some Time Ago) we
discussed how to reduce
or eliminate the drag penalty of the flat virtually pitchless root
section of the blades........I
had already decided to eliminate this drag by using the large 16 inch
diameter "Mustang II"
spinner which I believe you have incorporated on your
"RV4"...........I have spent the last
2.5 years watching after aging parents so am far behind with my
"DELTA" and have not
been able to test my drag reduction theory for the
"IVO"..........I would be very interested
to hear from anyone of the group with a tractor /IVO installation that
may have used a large
diameter spinner to reduce and/or eliminate the drag from the root
section of the blades.....
The 16 inch spinner will cover most but not all of this
virtually flat root section........ If the
airframe/cowl will handle an 18 inch spinner then all of this root
section will be covered if
I recall correctly (I am not at the
hangar).........FWIW
--
Kelly Troyer
"Dyke Delta"_13B ROTARY Engine
"RWS"_RD1C/EC2/EM2
"Mistral"_Backplate/Oil Manifold
-------------- Original message from "Mike Wills"
<rv-4mike@cox.net>: --------------
> John,
>
> I looked pretty seriously at the IVO a number of years ago. But was scared
> off by a number of things:
>
> 1) Watched Dave Atkins repairing a delaminated trailing edge on the flight
> line at Copperstate fly-in.
> 2) A friend with a Kolb Firestar/Rotax 503/ground adjustable IVO had the
> prop come apart in flight resulting in a forced landing that totaled the
> plane.
> 3) Tracy's
experience re reduced performance at speed.
> 4) The issues experienced by Lyc powered users.
>
> Numbers 1 & 2 were possibly due to something going through the prop
with the
> engine running. Issue 4 seems to be not relevant. This leaves Tracy's
> experience with the IVO. I wasnt thinking about the fact that you fly a
> pusher when I asked, but presumably a pusher would not have the prop root
> issue that Tracy
reported. On my RV-4 I use a much larger than stock spinner
> and this issue may not be as significant as it was for Tracy. But I'm not
> sure I want to buy one to find out. My current prop seems to be pretty
close
> though I havent flown it enough to really make a judgement.
>
> Thanks for the feedback.
>
> Mike Wills
> RV-4 N144MW
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Slade"
> To: "Rotary motors
in aircraft"
> Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 9:41 PM
> Subject: [FlyRotary] IVO Prop
>
>
> > >I didn't know anyone had ever had any success with an IVO. Tell
me more.
> > What do you want to know? Its a very well engineered piece of
equipment.
> > The CF blades are hollow and have a steel rod running to the hub.
> > Activating the motor via brushes twists the steel and thus twists the
> > blades equally. The twist change is quite visible. There were
problems
> > with the individual blades slipping on the hub. This has been solved
by
> > providing a knurled hub, and not selling to guys with Lycomings. The
IVO
> > is available for rotary, subaru, Franklin 6 and other less "pulsy"
> > engines. After the first 15 hours or so my blades have hardly taken
any
> > extra torque.
> >
> > My performance is greatly enhanced compared to the fixed pitch
Performance
> > prop. Static with the wood prop was around 4500. With the IVO on full
fine
> > I get closer to 5400 which gives me access to a lot more power on
take
> > off. I've never done a "high speed" run with the IVO, but
I've had 180 kts
> > indicated at 2000' a few times without much effort, and without ever
going
> > to the full course setting. Another nice bonus is that throttled back
on
> > full fine for landing, the prop acts like a brake. Its much easier to
land
> > and stop than the fixed pitch that's pushing you along fairly well,
even
> > at idle.
> >
> > I know a Velocity driver (Mike Watson) who also uses an IVO (Franklin
6)
> > and is very happy with it after around 5 years of use.
> >
> > The factory people are very easy to deal with and very helpful.
> >
> > The Cozy Girrrls are installing an IVO. What better recommendation
could
> > you want? :)
> >
> > Regards,
> > John Slade
> > Turbo Rotary Cozy IV, N96PM
> > 98.1 Hrs.
> >
> > Mike Wills wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> Mike Wills
> >> RV-4 N144MW
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Slade"
> >> To: "Rotary
motors in aircraft"
> >> Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 10:30
AM
> >> Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Ground Testing
> >>
> >>
> >>> The IVO electric in-flight adjustable costs around $2350. I'm
very
> >>> pleased with mine. My "spare" is a $2700 fixed
pitch wood prop thats a
> >>> piece of art, but doesn't work anywhere near as well.
> >>> John
> >>>
> >>> Tracy Crook wrote:
> >>> A variable pitch prop would be nice to get the best of both
worlds but
> >>> it's an expensive option and $10,000 buys a lot of gas.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Homepage: http://www.flyrotary.com/
> >>> Archive and UnSub:
> >>> http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/flyrotary/List.html
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Homepage: http://www.flyrotary.com/
> >> Archive and UnSub:
> >> http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/flyrotary/List.html
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Homepage: http://www.flyrotary.com/
> > Archive and UnSub:
> > http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/flyrotary/List.html
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Homepage: http://www.flyrotary.com/
> Archive and UnSub:
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