X-Mozilla-Keys:                                                                                 

Bob Romanko wrote:

I've been on here for quite a while now, and really
appreciate the high level of expertise in the group.
I'm not an engineer or physicist, but I can figure out
the gist of most of the posts (grin).

I have a quick, simple question:

Is it reasonable to expect 180HP out of a normally
aspirated 13B in an aircraft with a constant speed
prop?  I see the engine as having a tuned intake,
tuned exhaust, fuel injection and dual ignition.
I'd probably go with Tracy Crook's PSRU once it's
shook out.  My aircraft is a Bearhawk, with plenty
of room for the radiator, and an engine weight
around 400 pounds all up.

The reason for such a simple question is that I've
seen so many very advanced posts in the past nine
months or so I've lost sight of what to expect
from "stock"!  (grin)

Thanks,

Bob Romanko
Charlottesville, VA

Bob your name sounds a bit familiar. Are you the Bear Hawk
designer? To answer your question 180 HP is run of
the mill. A resonably amount of attention to tuning
should produce that.. no problem. The variable pitch
prop will be a big bonus for a Bear Hawk STOL wise.

Paul Lamar

Paul, I sure wish I were the Bearhawk designer!
That man's Bob Barrows.  He lives about 125 miles
from me, and I'll be at his strip this Saturday
for a Bearhawk Fly-In at Fincastle, VA.  Bob is
a brilliant engineer, and a VERY good aircraft
engine man.  He has his A&P and is also a mechanical
engineer.  He rebuilds mostly Lycomings for
experimentals.  He sells a newly rebuilt O-360
all up for $12,000.  Pretty reasonable for what
you get!

Although his engines are a very good price, I still
can't stop thinking about this rotary option.
I met Chris Ross out in Tucson a year ago.  What
a shop they have out there!  Small, but full of
everything you could imagine for what they do.  I
also have talked to Tracy Crook a number of times,
and really like his "real world" philosophy.  I
have a rotary in my garage now.  It was given to
me by the engine shop at the local community
college.  It's froze up, and I don't have a clue
as to what year it is, or whether it's a 13B or
a 12A.  Still, I'm looking forward to tearing
into it!

I did post to this group a few months ago.
You may remember me as suggesting a way to tie
your oil light in with your engine light on
your van?  I live here in Charlottesville, VA,
have my PPL and A&P ticket, and right now am
just starting to build a Bearhawk.  It's a labor
of love, but an awesome plane!

Thanks for your answer, and for doing such a great
job with this group.  I've been following it for
over a year, and enjoy every post.

Bob Romanko

Thanks for your kind comments.
Say hellow to Bob Barrows for me. He got me back up to 
speed awhile back on the graphical method of calculating
the loads in space frames. I always enjoy talking
to him at airshows and I think the Bear Hawk is just
great. It will be very beautiful there in the Shenandoah
Valley in the fall. I went to Fork Union about 1950 or so.
 
Paul Lamar
 
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