>G'day Paul

>
>Yesterday I heard the sounds of silence at 8500ft in my RV7. Fortunately
>I have been sticking to open country for the 40 hour test period and was
>able to select a stubble paddock uphill and into wind and made a safe
>landing.
>The two coil packs on the front rotor had failed, melted plastic near >the
>connectors. When the front rotor failed I was able to continue at 80
>knots for about ten minutes until the ignition circuit breaker popped.
>The coil packs failed unsafe (shorted).
>When the rescue crew arrived I rewired the two good coils to the
>trailing plugs and flew the twenty miles home.
>That makes four Mazda failed Mazda coil packs. The first two came with
>the engine.
>I am going to remove the tangential muffler as it is a huge heat source
>even with heaps of shielding, and try a 3 into one pipe system with no
>muffler as there is a 4 seat Jabiru flying in Sydney (with the Renesis
>>from a Cobra that crashed in Queensland) that apparently is reasonably
>quiet.
>
>Regards Ian Beadle
>
>Wow! Ian you live a charmed life. Very sorry to hear that.
>Very glad you made a safe landing. Stock RX8 coils I assume.
>Do you have a picture where they were mounted?

On the engine, plug side.  I will get a picture.

>Perhaps they are not up to continuous RPM. Have you measured the >current?
>Perhaps a few low ohm power resistors are called for. What ignition
>system are you using? How wide is the pulse?

Tracy's.  I will get the oscilloscope onto it

>As far as I know the GM V8 coils have given no trouble.
>
>
>Tell me more about the RX8 engine powered Cobra that crashed in
>Queensland. Why did it crash? Does Baz know about this?

On third test flight by an experienced test pilot.
I will get some more details.

Ian,


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