Thanks for taking the time and effort to outline what progress and problems have been encountered in the quest for a lighter Mazda based rotary engine.

Are you thinking about making a 'front' sideplate with mount points? 

Then we could leave out the bedplate and a few feet of mount tube?

That wouldn't make the engine lighter, but the engine + mount would be even lighter yet, and open up more space for exhaust systems and coolers.

I'm just asking, because you must have already thought of this, and inquireing minds....

Thanks;

Scott

Scott,

We are hoping to update a version of the original PSRU. The best system would have mounting provisions on the bellhousing for a three-point mount similar to the one used in the Questair Venture. The engine mount would be a tubing version of the mount used on the P-51. Take a look at one some time it is an excellent layout. In fact if you get a chance take a look at the engine mount on the Thundermustang scale kit running the Falconner V12 engine. They did a tubing mount that is just like I want to do. I do NOT like the sandwich mount plate. The system is heavy when finished and the rubbers are too close to the exhaust where it's the hottest. Not the best solution. The heat problem is even a bigger problem than the structural problems. You can make the mount strong enough, but several of the guys running the plate mount have had to replace the Barry mounts in around 20 hours due to cracking or melting, not good. The rear/front plate that will bolt up to the dynafocal or conical mount is attractive, but has some problems too. The rotary is built like a stack of pancakes. It is doweled for alignment, but those dowels were never intended to support the engine AND the PSRU and prop! Mistral has gone away from this on their 3 rotor which is a bed mount. I'm not sure but I don't think they intend to continue with it on the 2 rotor either. (My opinion only.) On their Le Mans 4 rotor Mazda used 2 carbon fiber honeycomb plates attached to the engine to keep it in alignment and to allow them to use it as a stressed member. This could be considered an excellent, if high priced solution. They still used the plates to carry the load rather than mount to the end of the engine. Once the steel intermediate housings are designed we may include "ears" to make a very lightweight 3 point mount nearest the CG of the engine-PSRU-prop combination. This is what the dynafocal mount is intended to do anyway. The Superlite engine used built in ears for mounting. The tubes give you something to mount the radiators on too rather than requiring their own subframe. Cheers,

Bill Jepson