X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Received: from imf19aec.mail.bellsouth.net ([205.152.59.67] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.0.8) with ESMTP id 985567 for flyrotary@lancaironline.net; Tue, 14 Feb 2006 23:54:57 -0500 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=205.152.59.67; envelope-from=sladerj@bellsouth.net Received: from ibm60aec.bellsouth.net ([65.2.92.29]) by imf19aec.mail.bellsouth.net with ESMTP id <20060215045413.YWN3281.imf19aec.mail.bellsouth.net@ibm60aec.bellsouth.net> for ; Tue, 14 Feb 2006 23:54:13 -0500 Received: from JSLADE ([65.2.92.29]) by ibm60aec.bellsouth.net with ESMTP id <20060215045412.VOES1931.ibm60aec.bellsouth.net@JSLADE> for ; Tue, 14 Feb 2006 23:54:12 -0500 From: "John Slade" To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" Subject: RE: [FlyRotary] Re: Why do this? / was Another Rotary failure. Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 23:54:08 -0500 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00DC_01C631C1.F23BC3D0" X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) In-Reply-To: X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1409 Importance: Normal This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00DC_01C631C1.F23BC3D0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Messagea well maintained certified type engine is light years ahead in reliability. Sorry, Rusty, but I've got to take issue with that. I got into the rotary not for the challenge, and certainly not for the cash savings. I've seen plenty of the former and little of the latter so far. The reason I wanted a rotary was first and foremost, increased reliability. Specifically a reduced chance of a catastrophic failure and stopped prop and better chance of making it to a field if something DID go wrong. The other reason was that I wanted more power at altitude. I'm just now getting to the point that I'm ready to wear my "I love flying my rotary" badge. It's been a long haul, solving little problems one at a time, but because of the redundancy, it hasn't been a dangerous one. We were just discussing this on the canard forum. Here's a snip of what I posted there on the same issue...... I wouldn't call it lack of confidence. It's more of an "acute awareness" that I admit to not having had when flying my Cherokee all over the East Coast. Obviously I did the usual off field training, PFLs etc and kept the issue in mind, but nowhere near as much as I do these days. Is that because the Rotary is more likely to let me down? Not really. In fact I think it's less likely to stop the prop than that old (2250 SMOH) O320 I was driving. The rotary engine isn't likely to fail internally and I have redundancy on almost all critical systems, so I'm probably more confident than I was. That is... if I'd thought about it as much in the Piper, which I didn't. In those days I'd bumble along cross country at 1000' without a care in the world. I don't do that any more, but it's not because of the rotary. Perhaps it's because of the increased landing speeds. The first few flights were certainly adrenaline pushers, if not a little scary, but we pilot types thrive on adrenaline - right? I'm confident that I'm though the worst of the unique installation issues. The last few months have been plagued with little things - minor fuel leak, partially blocked filter, fuel pump ground, minor oil leak and, finally, minor coolant leak. Would you believe - a fully tightened brand new $30 AN swivel fitting leaking? , All little annoying stuff. There have been zero issues that damaged the underwear or even changed the heart rate. I'm confident that the "acute awareness" will settle down over time. My 2c John Turbo Rotary Cozy IV 53.3 hrs. ------=_NextPart_000_00DC_01C631C1.F23BC3D0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Message
a well=20 maintained certified type engine is light years ahead in=20 reliability.   
Sorry, Rusty, but I've got to take issue with = that.
I got into the rotary not for the challenge, = and=20 certainly not for the cash savings.  I've seen plenty of the former = and=20 little of the latter so far. The reason I wanted a rotary was first and=20 foremost, increased reliability. Specifically a = reduced=20 chance of a catastrophic failure and stopped prop and better chance of = making it=20 to a field if something DID go wrong. The other reason was that I wanted = more=20 power at altitude.
 
I'm just now getting to the point that I'm = ready to=20 wear my "I love flying my rotary" badge. It's been a long haul, solving = little=20 problems one at a time, but because of the redundancy, it hasn't been a=20 dangerous one.
 
We were just discussing this on the canard = forum.=20 Here's a snip of what I posted there on the same issue......
I=20 wouldn't call it lack of confidence. It's more of an "acute awareness" = that I=20 admit to not having had when flying my Cherokee all over the East Coast. = Obviously I did the usual off field training, PFLs etc and kept the = issue in=20 mind, but nowhere near as much as I do these days. Is that because the = Rotary is=20 more likely to let me down? Not really. In fact I think it's less likely = to stop=20 the prop than that old (2250 SMOH) O320 I was driving. The rotary engine = isn't=20 likely to fail internally and I have redundancy on almost all critical = systems,=20 so I'm probably more confident than I was. That is... if I'd thought = about it as=20 much in the Piper, which I didn't. 3D"" In those days I'd bumble along cross country at 1000' = without a care=20 in the world. I don't do that any more, but it's not because of the = rotary.=20 Perhaps it's because of the increased landing=20 speeds.
 
The first few flights were = certainly=20 adrenaline pushers, if not a little scary, but we pilot types thrive on=20 adrenaline - right? I'm confident that I'm though the worst of the = unique=20 installation issues. The last few months have been plagued with little = things -=20 minor fuel leak, partially blocked filter, fuel pump ground, minor oil = leak and,=20 finally, minor coolant leak. Would you believe - a fully tightened brand = new $30=20 AN swivel fitting leaking? 3D"", All=20 little annoying stuff.
 
There have been zero issues = that damaged=20 the underwear or even changed the heart = rate.
I'm confident=20 that the "acute awareness" will settle down over time. =

My 2c
John
Turbo Rotary Cozy IV
53.3=20 hrs.
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