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-----Original Message-----
From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of Bill
Dube
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 11:38 AM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: NACA vs. P51 Scoop
If you are after the very ultimate in reliability, then a single-engine
experimental aircraft with an alternative engine is probably not the
right
choice.
Agreed. However, since that is precisely what I am going to build, the
question becomes how I can build it with the most reliability possible
within my time and money constraints.
Whenever you modify something, or build a prototype, little
things nearly
always go wrong, no matter how careful and skilled you are. That is why
the
FAA requires a fly-off period for all experimental aircraft. Of the
alternative engines, a rotary appears to be the most reliable and
robust.
However, the typical alternative engine installed in an experimental
aircraft has a higher failure rate than the typical certified engine
installed in an experimental aircraft.
I agree. One benefit of having the plans and not being able to start
construction for almost 10 years is that I have had the time to reading
numerous web sites, read almost every posting on several mailing lists
and meet a variety of people who each have contributed to my knowledge
base. I know it is risky and apt to fail...initially. What I hope to
have when I'm done is an airplane/powerplant with several (hopefully)
well thought out improvements to allow for the type of missions I intend
to fly.
If your target is ultimate reliability, you should probably buy
a
certified twin-engine aircraft.
Why? Hopefully because it is twin-engine and not because it is
certified. But that is another discussion. Besides, my target isn't
ultimate reliability. My target is just what I said above.
If your heart is set on "rolling your own" (including an
alternative
engine) then perhaps you should build a twin-engine aircraft using a
pair
of rotaries. Perhaps a scaled-down version of Rutan's Voyager.
Nothing of that sort is in my budget. (nor exists that I know of) :-)
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