>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,

G'day guys,
Yeah, I know about that Cobra. I didn't know the Jabiru was in the air yet,
I thought  the engine was still being fitted. The Cobra in question ( unless
there has been one I didn't know about) was crashed on landing when the wing
went under a boundary fence line. The pilot of that plane had a history in
the Air Force but many years ago. Thats the one that burnt most of the
fuselage. It was totally pilot error and not related to my pitch problems.
Incidently I am now waiting for the antiservo tabs.

Keep all the good info coming, I am learning heaps!

Baz

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