Brian Kraut wrote:
> I think you could easily get the 220 you are after using a 140 HP or
> so Corvair like Mark L. is using or even a souped up O-200. Build it
> light and you could be a serious contender for the Pazmany efficiency
> contest or any other race that will class you with other planes of
> the same engine size.
I'm definately going to try a Corvair before anything else with this one. It
seems like a good motor for this plane and I like building engines, but not
at Lycoming prices ;) How does the Pazmany contest work? X laps on a given
amount of fuel?
> I suggest getting a copy of Kent Paser's "Speed With Economy" and
> doing some work on drag cleanup, exhaust mods, etc.
I'll have to look into getting a copy. I already have the books needed for
the structural changes ("Airplane Design" and "Composite Basics"), plus I
have a trick up my sleeve. My dad has a degree in aerospace engineering.
Right now the problem isn't power or design changes, it's room for a 4' by
15' table and 2 motorcycles in a 1 car garage. The other half of the garage
is taken up with my office and the shop area. With some careful shuffling
and putting one bike in the house, where it should be anyway, I think it can
be done.
Just remember, if my wife asks it's just a really, REALLY big RC model ;)
Hmm... I wonder if I could get some big servos and...
> As far as filling the fusalage sides, one of my previous KRs had the
> sides filled and glassed on the inside back to just behind the seat.
> Probably didn't add more than two pounds and really made a difference
> in sound and heat insulation. I highly recommend it. The bottom of
> the fusalage had plywood all the way back to the forward spar and
> doesn't need anything else except the foam in the void spaces. I
> wouldn't worry about doing anything under or behind the seat.
I was thinking more along the lines of replacing the plywood entirely, along
with the gussets. I'd bag the whole thing, but I'm concerned about bending
the sides in after everything is laid up. That's bound to build in some
stress if it's even possible to bend it after it's glassed. I suppose doing
the layups, setting up the bag, then bending the sides into a jig before
pulling a vacuum and letting it cure may work, though.
For the wing skins I'm planning on hotwiring cores and bagging them with
glass. I'm not a big fan of carbon for structural parts after watching the
carbon fender on my bike crack from nothing more than turbulent air at...
well, we won't discuss the speeds involved here.
I'm still having trouble visualizing how to handle the canopy frame, but
I'll have a few months before it's time for that.
--
Steve
mystic...@swbell.net
He who seeks will find, and he who knocks will be let in.
