> Hey Paul,
          >
          > My buddy and I were talking about BD5's (not a good idea -
    Hah!), and
          > the discussion reminded me of that little Wankel Cart  engine
    that was
          > mentioned here a while back.
          >
          > http://www.nova-racing.com/nova_gb/index.htm
          >
          > I started pondering making one of these things as a two
    rotor - seems
          > perfect - starts out water cooled and it looks like it  might be
         p-port.
          > The only thing I think I don't like are the roller  bearings..
          >
          > The thing that stuck out when looking at the pics is that  the
         rotor is
          > so wide compared to it's other dimensions.
          >
          >

     http://www.nova-racing.com/nova_gb/Preise/Einzelteile_Orig/ XN079%7E6.JPG
     <http://www.nova-racing.com/nova_gb/Preise/Einzelteile_Orig/ XN079%7E6.JPG>
          >
          > I imagine this is how the 16B rotors might look...
          >
          > I think trying to convert one of these to a two rotor  might be
          > preferable to converting a 13B to a single rotor, and  might end
         up in a
          > similar (slightly lesser) horsepower range. A complete
    single rotor
          > weighs less than 40lbs. It seems that a 92hp 2 rotor might  weigh
         around
          > 75lbs - light! A 90hp Continental weighs 180lbs+..
          >
          >
          > Matt-
          >
          > Yes it sounds like a better idea than a one rotor 13B.
          >
          > --
          > Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.
          >
          >
          > Matt,
          >
          > That's a nice little engine. How would you combine two of
    them, bolt
          > the shafts to one another?
          >
          > What about the crankcase intake? Wouldn't that be in the  way to
          > bolting them together end-to-end?
          >
          > The specs say 31 kilowatt, which is 41 hp, so two would be
    82 hp.
          >
          >
          > Regards,
          >
          > Gordon.


         Matt,

         These engines are so small you could almost mount them side by
         side both feeding into a small PSRU.

         Doug


         Doug,

         You could arrange two of them horizontally opposed -- just  bolt
    the
         bases together. It looks like there might be enough room to  have a
         pulley right in the middle for prop, with a belt coming off  each
         engine to the prop pulley in the middle.

         That would probably fit under the cowl of a small sportplane.  In a
         real small cowl, you might have the carbs or exhaust sticking  out a
         bit, a la J3 Cub.

         Regards,

         Gordon.

We had discussed doing something similar.  I don't think it's a bad
idea, but it wouldn't be as light as if you could actually combine the
parts into a 2 rotor engine..


Matt-

Gordon, Paul & All,
Although a great deal of criticism aimed at the BD-5 is well justified
I've been a BD-5 owner for the last three years and consider the basic
design to be extraordinary. Sadly, the company went bankrupt in the
early 70's before a drive train and reliable engine were found. Of the
5,000+ kits sold only about 150 BD-5s were ever completed and flown.
Mine is powered by a Honda Civic EB3 engine which does a good job of
providing 110 hp with a RaJay turbo attached.

However, I would prefer to have a rotary engine in my bird and that is
why I'm an avid reader of all the data that is posted here. Of the
rotary engine designs that would be candidates for use in the BD-5 the
two that stand out are the Norton/MidWest/Diamond and (pardon me for
using this phrase) Moller. Either of these engine designs would provide
almost turbine smoothness and reduce the weight of the powerplant
package while producing sufficient horsepower.

The EB3 is too heavy for the BD-5 airframe but provides one of the most
reliable alternative engines to date unless you have the $$$$$$$$$ and
good fortune to find a TRS-18 MicroTurbo Jet engine.

There are rotary powered BD-5s around, one with a Mazda that never
solved cooling problems and a few with Nortons that work quite well.
Unless one of these engines, or one like them, become available we will
have to "make do" with other choices.
Paul, thanks  to you and all who contribute  to the rotary effort. I'll
continue to ease-drop on what is posted here in the hope that one day a
rotary will become available and I can join the group (even if I do fly
a BD-5).
Regards,
John K. Lewis
N501BD

Couple of questions. What does an Honda EB3 weigh?
Have any links or pictures to the one with a rotary?
Perhaps the cooling problems can be solved.

Thanks

Paul Lamar


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