Perry Mick wrote:

Now for the news that everyone has been waiting for!

Well, actually, maybe only a few have been waiting for.

My plane is down for annual so I took the engine off for the
first time in 2.5 years.  Took the front cover off and inspected
the thrust bearings this morning.  They look completely normal.
There is no noticable wear on the thrust plate.  123 hours.

Could it be that the Ross redrive is somehow harder on these
bearings than a prop is?

I'm thinking of reassembling it and measuring the end play so
we have some numbers.  Then replacing the bearings anyway since
the set is only $50, then send the old one's to you to inspect.

Based on this encouraging news, I'm offering the flywheel to prop
adaptor for sale.  Not produced by me of course, but Saber
Manufacturing.  The price is rather high because it's based on
a production quantity of one.  The price will come down if more
are made at one time.  If you use the starter in the stock position
you need a prop extension.  Might want one anyway for streamlining.
It's only been tested in pusher configuration.

--
Perry J. Mick
Duckt N7XR
http://www.ductedfan.com

Howard wrote:

Good News Perry.....   It has been stated that duct fans generate a fairly
large proportion of their thrust from the duct itself..... I'm not at all
sure what the mechanism for this aerodynamically, but any thrust not fed
through the prop shaft is unloading the bearing.   I'm not so sure I'd be
too quick to assume that your success applies to all direct drive
installations.

    By the way.... what is the current status of your duct fan project....
Do you have a combination that is producing the projected thrust yet.....
Are you satisfied?  or do you forsee more modifications?

                                 H.W.

 
The Aircraft Rotary Engine Newsletter.              Powered by Linux.

http://home.earthlink.net/~rotaryeng/            http://www.linux.org