Dear Rotary Engine People,

my name is Marco Testi and i'm writing from France, but i've
been strolling around lately. I subscribed to the newsletter
just yesterday, i see you are quite active!

I am a novice in aircraft building and engine stuff.
I am looking for a valid engine in the 80-100HP range (but
why not up to 120 if it will fit!) to power the little
monster prototype of an aerobatic flying wing i designed
from scratch.

--------
just a short contextual description

I've been in this venture since 2003, and since 2007 i've
done an uncounted number of R/C models to test the concept
(up to 1/2 real scale, with electric propulsion system). I
manage to have roll rates of more than 1000°/sec (i stop
the roll wing leveled by timing it not by seeing it :-), i
can fly in post stall under full control up to 40-50°
alpha, and perform flat spins and reverse flight (like
pulling the handbrake of a car and skidding backwards in sky
:-))). The idea is scaling up to the real manned prototype
now.
The wing in question is very small and has nothing to share
with a hang glider, and with a 100 HP engine the thing would
have a power to weight ratio of about 0.35-0.45 HP/kg (!)

I have a background in physics, robot prototyping and
flying, mostly hang gliders, but i hold a PPL and done some
aerobatic training in a Pitts S2A.

I am not interested in selling the wing one day, i just do
this for me and for setting up a formation team one day and
do some special choreographies in flight, no classic
formation flying. i have found no issues of doing this thing
with other people, universities and industry, i'm quite fed
up of the landscape by the way.

end of contextual description
-------

The engine is intended to be mount in pusher configuration
and have all the aerobatic issues set (inverted
lubrification and fuel system, and a good, solid gearbox
otherwise it will break under high gyroscopic forces coming
from the prop). I had oriented myself on those new Hirths
3701E (indirect fuel injection, 2 stroke) but the Hirth
distributors and home factory here in Europe are really crap
on the public relation as the only thing i can get from them
after insisting a while is the price of the engine and the
terms of sale, in telegraphic style (nice people) so the
hell with them.
I looked for alternative power sources while avoiding being
black-holed by the Rotax galaxy, and found the Wankel engine
as a nice and interesting option, but i cannot find any
seller.
so i found this newsletter and would like to learn on the
wankels available, on how they can be conditioned for the
task, build up a solid picture of how i can do it and if i
feel up to the task, eventually go for it.

so if any among you is willing to give me directions and
help, i'm listening.
i can perform some airfoil analysis in change, among other
things, if you like :-)))))))))


thank you very much

marco testi

Marco,
I did look at the Ligeti-stratos some time ago and found it a very
interesting design. Who do we contact to discuss design and construction?
I was hoping some one would mention the one rotor, such as being developed
by Richard Sohn. I also have my own single rotor development, going very
slowly however.
The is also the new Mazda Rotary the 16X ( all aluminium ) 2 rotor- perhaps
a single rotor of these parts would do the job, all easily produce 100 hp
and more if needed. I'm hoping for 125 hp with a P-Port single rotor.
However I don't know what engine weight restrictions you have, I think the
standard weight all up with reduction gearbox ( 45 lbs) and heavy cast iron
end housings, a single wet engine might be as heavy as 290 lbs. All up under
300 lbs anyway. The 2 rotor is about 340 lbs all up.
Richard Sohn has some weight reductions with his design worth investigating,
He's running a Hirth Gearbox with some composite ( Al and cast iron) end
housings. His weight could be as low as 200 lbs (I think) - maybe less, I
can't really remember. Don't get angry with me here Richard, as I can't
remember all the details.

Personally I think this is the path to follow ATPIT.
George ( down under)