I sent you a letter earlier to Kitplanes. After further thoughts, I have
more to add.

A big problem of such innovations is the very formidable obstacle put
up by the bureaucrats at the FAA and other countries, that and the
necessary resources needed for R and D means only a company like Curtiss
Wright can do it. Or you have support from some billionaire. Curtiss
themselves have very formidable bureaucracies  within their company.

That was the underlining reason that even with the prestigious Wright's
name, they still went under. Because of poor  customer service, they
angered many of the generals in all branches of the military. Their
products, even in the 1940, such as the P40s were already out of date.I
do not see too many Curtiss names among the more advanced warplanes
towards the end of the war. Collectively, the generals decided , they
will put up with them as long as there is a big war on, but once it is
over, they will not give them anymore orders.

What  certification  standards evolved from the 1930's  for air safety
gradually become a hindrance  for new technologies. With automotive
technologies pulling out way ahead of aircrafts. I can just see the
bureaucrats  at the FAA when someone want to certify a  turbo compound
rotary. The public safety issues had already partly been taken over by the
lawyers. Detroit are able to change product design from year to year, or
even mid year without the certification hassles.

As far as I am concerned, any kit or plans build  airplanes  that have the
numbers  flying  and have stood the test of time  deserve to be
certified, provided the airplane did not deviate  significantly from the
factory design. Designs such as RV's Kitfox, etc.

The only way I can see a new compound rotary engine can be certified is to put
it to work with some missionaries in countries with few or no
certification standards, rack up some significant hours to ease the way
through the process.
Tony Lam
YYZ

Tony, check out http://www.mistral-engines.com/
Also Austro Engines already have a 50 HP certified rotary.
They are working on certifying a 75 HP version.
That might make a nice light twin.

http://www.austroengine.at/products/rotary-engines/rotary-engines.html


Paul Lamar