Paul lamer wrote:

 Apparently they are reselling the AIXRO go kart engine from Germany.
 That is the one Bear used to fly over Everest

It is but I think that it is a step up in the sense that it will be  aircraft
ready - such as altitude compensating fuel injection, reduction  gearing for
a prop, liquid cooling system etc.

I was also wondering. There have been a lot of recent discussions  on turbo
compounding of the rotary engine to improve fuel consumption down  to about
0.35 lbs/hr/Hp (I can't recall the exact realistic target fuel  consumption
number).

Would it make any sense to use something like the Rotron 25 Hp or  45 Hp
engine as a developmental test bed to prove the technology, test  various
methods. The idea being this may be a cost effective development  approach
due to smaller component sizing etc.

In rocket engine development this approach is taken all the time.  It is
typical to start testing with an engine that is about 1/10th to  1/5th the
thrust. It saves a lot of money and allows the all important  experience base
on the system and components to develop at a much lower cost than  jumping to
the end goal.

Aircraft engines are fairly scalable, yet rocket engines are generally
considered to be non scalable for a variety of reasons, yet the  small rocket
engine approach works very well to get to the end game at the  overall lowest
cost and shortest time frame.

Thoughts?

Cheers,
Brian

Yes and no. For that size AIXRO engine the turbine gear box becomes
pocket watch sized :) Also the AIXRO engine is quite expensive due  to the euro
to dollar ratio. One can find a running Mazda 12A for free almost.

All you need is a turbo and a gear box. I'll loan a gear box and a  turbo to the
right person that can demonstrate the ability and where-with-all to  complete
it and test it on a dyno. Here are some pictures of what I have so  far.

Another possibility is obtain a blow down turbine from an R3350 TC
and connect it to a three rotor. I am saving a 3 rotor for that  possibility.
Paul Carey in WA Aus almost did it.

Paul Lamar

Okay Paul,  where does one obtain the blow down turbine from an R3350
TC?
By the way, we've just about cleared some room in our schedule to
resume work on the plane...

Chris Cosman

There used to be a whole pile of them on the Camarillo airport stored outside.
Wherever you find super G Connies you will find a R3350 turbine.

Paul Lamar