REFLECTOR: MUSCLE PLANES

[Jack Prock]

Al,

Do you have enough time on the engine to see what the fuel burn is? I have heard that one downside to a
rotary is the fuel burn goes up. Have you found that to be true?

Jack
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Al Gietzen 
  To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list' 
  Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 9:50 AM
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: MUSCLE PLANES


  Tom;



  I noted that you didn't ask about the rotary, but consider that it eliminates all those pistons, connecting rods, valves, rocker arms, push rods, etc., with their reciprocal motion.  Comes stock with two plugs per rotor and normal setup is with two injectors per rotor for redundancy.  A normally aspirated 3-rotor with 2.17 to 1 reduction gets you started at about 265 hp (loafing), at a weight under that of an IO540.  If you want more power go to 3.5 : 1 reduction and get about 320 hp for just a few lbs more in the cooling system.  Add a turbo charger and some porting, and go to 600 hp, but only if you want to win at Reno.



  My 'all up' (prop not included) NA installation is about 420 lbs wet.  Total cost for the fairly highly customized installation is about $23,000.  Runs best on mogas, a buck and a half, or so, less than Avgas, but is also quite happy with avgas.  It fits into a cowl that is more compact than needed for an IO360 (mine is on an SE RG).  I'm quite happy with the package, except for some glitches with the electronic ECU which apparently wasn't designed for long runs from panel to engine, in a composite airframe subject to electrical noise; but I'm confident of getting that resolved.



  Al  
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