flyrotary@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

In a message dated 3/27/2010 7:58:16 PM Pacific Standard Time, rv-4mike@cox.net writes:

Bill,

I'm sure you are right, less expensive is more marketable. Same point I tried to make earlier. It was a joke.

Having said that, not sure I wouldn’t be willing to pay a sizable amount (easy to say since its all hypothetical). The thing is I've been thinking about a Harmon Rocket for a few years now. What would it be worth to get HR performance without having to build an entirely new airplane?

Since we are talking hypothetically, what would that $25,000 engine look like? How much of it would be Mazda and how much of it would be custom? If we were willing to split the difference and essentially retain all the Mazda pieces except the iron housings are we still talking about $25K? Just thinking out loud here.

Mike

Mike,

I understood the joke, and I am sorry to throw cold water on it. The Superlite engine retained the Mazda trochoid housings but even those were modified to remove as much weight as possible. They also went dry sump and fed the water at the center housing out through the spark plug area. The engine looked like the entire engine was the shape of the rotor housings with all aluminum end plates and p-ports. The engine mounts were extended "ears" on the end plates. The previously mentioned custom-built planetary on the front and the pendulous damper on the rear. Also of interest was that it was plugs up, and turned backward to achieve normal prop rotation! With exception of the rotors and housings every part was custom including the e-shaft.

They then came to their senses and built the iron eagle engine. It looked like a regular 13B because it was. The PSRU is a nice one using the internal ring gear and pinion, spur cut. I think it is one of the better designs and a benefit is that it offsets the engine 2 inches down which really helps cowl clearance. They also used a modified aircraft certified mechanical FI with the standard leaning knob. I hope these things can be saved and sold for a much lower price. It would help us all tremendously.

Bill Jepson