Dear Mr. Lamar,

I read your excellent article titled "Why not a Rotary?" in the Sport
Aviation magazine.  I was always interested in the Wankel engine principle
and would like to use one in an airplane, especially a well proven model such
as the Mazda engine.

Presently I am building a Europa XS Kit plane.  Unfortunately the Mazdda
engine is too heavy for a Europa.  Ideally I should use an engine around 110
to 120 Hp and not more than 160 lb. installed weight with accessories.

The Power-to-weight vs. HP chart in your article shows an engine:  Moller
Rotary.  This is exactly in my range of requirements.  I have not heard aobut
this engine before and I don't know where to find information on it.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could lead me to the source of
information.

                                            Joe Zappel,  glutatz@aol.com
                                            (831)  663-1707

They have been promising that engine for quite a few years but it does
not seem to be getting any closer to production. Royce Wise on here
is working on a light weight version of the Mazda one rotor that might come
in at 160 pounds with PSRU. To get 120 HP however you will need to
use what is called a peripheral port. An intake port directly into
the rotor housing and a 2.85 to one PSRU. An alternative would be a small
turbo charger. Up to about 175 HP would then be available for little
or no weight penalty as it would replace a required muffler.

Paul Lamar

Paul,

I have often wondered, given the Mazda's inherent robustness, if it could be
consistently abused for relatively short time periods for takeoff and initial
climbout. I know nothing about nitrous oxide or alcohol or whatever racing people
use but it would seem that there might be a useful tradeoff; short period but
"non-damage" abuse, the complexity of a "boost" fuel system, and increased short
term cooling load, for no turbo or two speed prop. I thought someone was doing
this with an amphib.

Fred Osborn

Absolutely. Ken Welter has run hundreds of pounds of nitrous oxide through
his 13B worth an additional 100 HP. He demonstrated this to me and Robin a few
months ago in the Columbia river near Portland. He accelerates to hull
speed and then pushes a red button on the top of the stick. The 2900 pound
Coot jumps up on the step and accelerates out of the water in just a few seconds.
http://coot-a.freeyellow.com/

Paul Lamar
 
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