Ed Anderson wrote:

Paul,
    I just happen to pull out an old book (Copyright 1990)  by Steve
LaFontaine on Aviation Conversion of the Mazda Wankel Rotary.
Interestingly, he has a list of aircraft which supposedly have had rotary
engines installed.  Includes among others a Cessna 337, Cherokee 6, Cessna
172, 170, Bushby Midget Mustang, etc.  Some interesting reading. Apparently
at one time he was offering a 300 hp turbo, fuel injected, 13B for $12,500
with a BSFC 0f 0.035.  Used Motorcycle type coils with a CD igniter and
trigger by an optical trigger located on the flywheel.

    Another claim is that using water injection has resulted in a 20-22%
increase in fuel economy and a 15% increase in HP, but over what is not
clear?

  A number of references are listed in the back of the book, did not know if
you might be interested in those or not. If so, send me your fax number an I
will fax them to you.

I wonder if anyone ever observed one of his engines and if he is still in
the business.  I would suppose not as no one has mentioned him.

Ed Anderson

Yes I have a copy of that little 28 page booklet. Thanks anyway Ed. 

Published back in 1990. Lots of graphs from SAE papers.
BSFC of 0.36 was claimed by Curtsies Wright for the stratified charge
engine burning heavy fuel. The Cessna 337 was probably the NASA test airplane.

Nice bibliography and references list. I'll see what I can do scanning it in.

Steve La Fontaine was 10 years ahead of his time. I think it has taken 
people that long to solve all the installed cooling problems. I notice he did
not address that issue adequately in the book. I am sure a lot of people
gave up for that reason alone.  I am not surprised that
people are still have cooling problems after all these years as 
no one has published solutions. That is what I am trying to do with
this newsletter. Cooling seems to be the major stumbling block for
most people at this time. I think, if Mr. La Fontaine had successfully
addressed the cooling issue, there would be a lot more rotary engines
flying around today. 

Has anybdoy tried contacting him?
The address in the book is Route 1, Box 700 Garfield AR 72732
Then Rotaire Technology Box 132 Eureka Springs AR 72632
(501) 359 3422

Paul Lamar
 
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