I think Monty got his idea for
classifying me as Cave Man Ed from an article that appeared in Flying Magazine
a few (more than a few ) years ago, where the author revisited and
revised some of his early misgivings about the Rotary engine’s suitability as
an aircraft power plant.
However, in keeping things light –
if I am going to be known as a Cave Man - how about making
it
“ Alley Oop” 
Notice how the “A” in
his name sort of resembles a rotory {:>)
An extract of the
article quoted here for those of you who haven’t been on the list long
enough. The author had this to say in his final
paragraph:
“…., the job of making
the rotary into a practical aviation engine has now fallen into the hands of a
bunch of homebuilders.
I hope that the combined efforts and ingenuity of these amateurs will settle,
once and for all, the question of the rotary’s suitability for airplanes. I
suspect that they will find in its favor. In the meantime they remain the
noblest and most daring of homebuilders, hairy-chested heroes for whom the
evidence that their latest idea was not a good one may well come in the form
of an engine failure just after takeoff. They continue undaunted, and their
numbers increase. The world owes them a debt of
gratitude…..”
Not that I agree with his
viewpoint – if I think my engine is going to fail just after takeoff (or any
other time during flight), - I DON”T TAKE OFF!!
Geeezzz.
If anyone want the complete
Magazine article (too large to post to the list), send me an e email,
the attached word doc has the same words just no picture of the
author.
Ed