REFLECTOR: engine choice

Wed Mar 14 08:06:57 CDT 2007

Dear all,

thx for the helpful input. I am just trying to gather as much info as I can.
As for the rotarys fuel consumption seems to be quite high and with aviation
fuel prices of $9,82 / Gal. or 6,38 / Gal for auto fuel I want to keep my
fuel consumption to a minimum. 

As for the rest of the factors that have to be considered when flying n-reg
experimentals in Germany:

- fuel costs --> low fuel consumption desired 
- very hard to get insurance; no hull insurance available through european
inssurance companies (certified engine might help)
- short runways (2200'; which should be o.k. according to velocity website)
- good climb performance needed because of lots of bad weather
- high altitude capability to fly above weather (15000'-20000')

A turbocharged TSIO 360 might be able to meet the above criteria?? Target
cruise speed should be 200kts with CS prop. + with Klaus Saviers's plasma
ignition performance should increase and fuel flow decrease especially when
flying higher (12000') and using hard leaning methods? Hope to see 200kts
with 11,5 Gal, T/O within 1800 @ gross standard day sea level. 

Has anybody any numbers or opinions on that? Anybody flying a TSIO360 SE-RG?

thx for the input,

Ben Harren
( Std RG Elite N888GF / just getting started)

  _____  

Von: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] Im
Auftrag von Al Gietzen
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 14. März 2007 01:41
An: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
Betreff: Re: REFLECTOR: engine choice

Ben;

IMO; from the standpoint of both size and weight, I would not recommend a V8
installation for a SE RG.  If you want to go ‘alternative engine’, and want
the HP of an IO540; but in a package that is smaller than an IO360, and
weighs significantly less than a 540 – then consider a 3-rotor rotary, Mazda
20B.  You can see my installation, and the dyno results of the engine on my
website http://members.cox.net/alg3/airplane.htm.  I am very pleased with
the performance and operation of this engine.  I only have 23 hours in the
air, so the reliability of my installation is still an unknown, but I’d say
there is little question of the robustness of the basic engine.

The spar on the long wing (at the inboard end is something like  2” wider
than the short wing.

Speaking of low-cut keel, I wonder to what extent it reduces the structural
strength of the bottom of the plane.  As one who experienced a gear-up
landing a couple of months ago (yes; I’m trying to forget, but there it is),
the strength of the keel down the middle really kept the damage to a
minimum.  Had that failed and allowed the bottom to ‘cave in’ at all, it
would have been a much larger repair job.  The other thing the saved it was
the microglass hardpoints for the cylinders and the seats which served a
skid pads.

But, then; you should never have to plan for a gear-up, or gear collapse –
right? 

Al (repaired and painted, waiting for a prop)

Subject: REFLECTOR: engine choice

Hi all,

I emailed with scott b. today regarding tools for my shop (just getting
started) and the dual yoke option (with low cut keel). I also asked him
about engine choices and told him that I was thinking about going automotive
(once I get to that point). I have looked at Bill Mulrooney's V-8
installation which looks very promising (good T/O & climb performance + low
fuel consumption + lots of HP). I have a Standard RG Elite model and was
wondering if the smaller wing will be able to take the load of the heavier
engine installation (similar to an IO-540)? After all, the only difference
between the long and the short wing seems to be the wing itself, since the
main spar looks identical !? I also noticed that load factors, published on
the velocity website for the XLs are smaller than the ones for the Stds,
letting me belief that the wings are of similar strength? I was just
wondering what the group's input was on this (V8 installation with gross
weight increase to 2800).

Anybody else flying or building a V8 velocity?

Kind regards,

Ben Harren

( Std RG Elite N888GF / just getting started)

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