Has anyone heard of an experimental aircraft using a japanese
4-cylinder motorcycle engine? The advantages seem obvious when
compared to other non-rotary auto conversion choices. Modern 1000cc
engines make 180hp, are liquid-cooled, lightweight, and
inexpensive.
If such an engine was de-tuned to 100-120hp by lowering the redline
(say from 13k to 9-10k), it might give close to a 1:1 power:weight
ratio with high reliability.
I can't be the first person to think of this. If it hasn't been
done
before, why?
-Chris Wood
Probably a cooling issue. Motor cycle engines, like car
engines, are
light duty. Several people have tried air cooled BMW engines
for the
past twenty
years but they never caught on.
http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/product-specifications.aspx?id=345
Engine Type Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valve per
cylinder,
inline-four with VVT
Displacement 1,352 cc
Maximum Torque 100.3 LbFt @ 6,200 rpm
Compression Ratio 10.7:1
Curb Weight 670.3 lbs. 679.1 lbs. (ABS model)
------------------------------------------------------
No mention is made of the red line or the HP surprisingly.
At 670 pounds for the whole bike the engine block could easily
weigh 200 pounds or more.
100 ft pounds of torque at 6200 RPM is 119 HP. About the same power
to weight
ratio as a Continental O-200 direct drive aircraft engine. Of
course
you will
still need a 20 to 30 pound gear box. Motor cycles are designed for
side ways
mounting... chain drive so it is no easy matter to design a
gear box
that will
take the power out inline or turn the drive 90 degrees for a
propeller.
That is also half the displacement of a Mazda 13B rotary engine
with
about the
same block weight but the rotary will easily put out 200 HP in side
port form
and 250 HP in p-port form.
These engines in new shape are also not cheap.
Paul Lamar
I've heard of one. They are running a Yamaha R-series liquid
cooled
engine rated at 150 hp. It uses a reduction gear and a drive shaft
to a ducted fan. So far, I've only seen graphics on the test rig.
This is a multi-year development program by a University, so things
tend to progress in short spurts. Haven't heard any feed back.
This engine is also used in the Yamaha 4-stroke PWC's. From one
graphic it's clear they are giving a lot of thought to the cooling
system with a separate plenum pumped by the discharge from the fan.
This program has been funded by the Light Aircraft Industry
organization of the country via the government. You suspect in
small yearly grants. The monitors for the program are pretty well
known engineering types.
George W
Well George as you well know a ducted fan and drive shaft is not the
greatest
for a 200 MPH airplane :) Perhaps they have been taken in by Mark Moore.
http://www.rotaryeng.net/PAV.html
What country and what University?
Paul Lamar
At the Air force museum in Dayton Ohio, each year there is a WW-I fly-in
where planes are allowed to use the front lawn of the museum as an
airport. Several real WWII planes fly as well as a large number of 7/8
scale and full sized replicas. Many use V-2 Motorcycle engines stuck in
2nd gear with a toothed belt prop drive. The unused gears are removed
from the transmission. With additional cylinders molded in glass fiber,
the look is convincing. The planes are from plans and kits.
The replicas can hover in a slight breeze. The whole show includes
encampments of Allied and German soldiers, in authentic uniforms and
tents. A swap meet of WW-I aircraft parts. And if that is not enough,
the museum if one of the best on earth.
Lynn E. Hanover
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