Barry Gardner wrote:

Paul, you wrote, "Most people will tell you not to exceeded
"square" in an aircraft piston engine... What square means is
2200 RPM and 22" of manifold pressure. Supposedly if the pressure
rises above the RPM you are lugging the engine and it is bad for
it."

You're making a wonderful point here about another area of
exploration for the rotary engine. I think this is promising.

However, some people think that piston aviators already make too
much of that rule of thumb about running "square" manifold
pressures and rpms. Have you heard the story of Charles
Lindbergh's work with the P-38s of the 475th Fighter Squadron
during WWII? They were flying missions and having problems with
their limited range. Lindbergh was flying with them and he was
regularly landing with lot more fuel than the rest of the
squadron. He was asked about it and he held a briefing on his
technique. Don't quote me on these numbers but as well as I can
remember, he had the pilots change from running 22" at 2200 rpm
to running only 1600 rpm. The history of the 475th Fighter Group
(http:/ / www.475thfg.org/ lindbergh.htm) states that Lindbergh
recommended that they slightly increase manifold pressure as
well.

Pilots at the time were positive they were going to blow their
engines and end up in the drink. However, maintenance did not go
up and their mission lengths improved dramatically.

I'm sure that there are limits to how much you can lug the
engine. But running square is pretty conservative in terms of
engine load.

YMMV.

Barry Gardner
Wheaton, IL

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