Hi Paul

General question for you.

What are the three or four major problem areas preventing the rotary from
really catching on as THE solution for general aviation. Cooling ? Optimal
reduction unit ? lubrication ? ignition ? etc ?

These are pretty elemental questions I'm not sure would interest everyone
but I am interested to see where you think the advances need to be made and
where the weaknesses are.

Thanks

Bill

Education, education and education :)

I still have people asking me; "what about the apex seals?"
The apex seal problem was solved 40 years ago.
In 1973 Mazda had problem with neoprene water
sealing O-rings. They melted when the engine was over heated.
It was dumb on the part of Mazda to use neoprene in the first place.
The problem was widely publicized. The only thing people remembered was
the word "sealing". Consequently people still think apex seals
are a problem.

Pilots are all from Missouri. It is a show me situation.
Until we have dozens of aircraft showing up at Sun & Fun and OSH
the rotary will never take off en mass.

In the mean time it is fuel plumbing details, cooling system design
and cooling plumbing details that give the builders the most trouble.

As far as new converts are concerned they want to see substantial
advantges. Higher HP per pound of engine weight is one of those
advantages. In that regard more people using p-ports will help.

Paul Lamar

Dear Bill
   One of the main problems  is the whole group is not united in there
efforts you can't get venders to commit to the cause of the future. If we
could put a run able eng together and show the flying public what is
possible then
you would see more rotaries flying. Just look at the subaru people and how
many are flying. The rotary eng is a far better design but until it is
presented in the same way the subaru is it will always take a back seat to
other auto converstions.
                                                    Regards
                                               Ed Klepeis