Jerry Hey wrote:
With the recent breakthroughs, it is going to be possible to go very
fast with extremely powerful rotary engines. I am hoping that some
of the qualified individuals on this list are already contemplating
the new airframes that can handle the power. A good old 13B P Port
generates all the power the stock Tailwind can use, I am sure.
However, with only a few modifications to the airframe it could
handle the forces generated by higher speeds. Drag is an issue because
the TW has a fixed gear and wing struts; however, it accelerates so
rapidly in dives that we know we that we have not reached the drag wall
when approaching 300 mph. (A Tailwind was accidentally stress tested
to 8.3Gs positive and 3.8Gs negative while pulling out of a 300 mph
dive. ) So there probably is potential in the design to go a lot
faster than it is now, safely.
The reason the Tailwind is a good choice to develop around the high
powered rotary engine is that it is affordable. It is impossible to
spend more than $10,000 building the entire aircraft, not counting the
engine and instruments. It should be possible to build a 300 mph
rotary powered, two place cruiser for for Under $40,000. That is
figuring $15,000 for the engine and $15,000 for the instruments and
radios.
I don't know how to prepare an airplane to go extremely fast, but I am
going to find out. Gives me something to look forward to after the
present project is launched. Jerry
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