Dr. Lamar,

I've been working on an F-1 rocket for about 10 years. Hell of a
lot of work. Ready to hang the engine and fly, then I lost my
job. Hmm... Forty grand for an engine, ten grand for a prop,
another ten grand for instruments. Not going to happen. I've
become a depression baby.

NOW I understand my parents.  Read your article on
Turbo-compound Wankels and looked at the web site. Considering
the cost of an IO-540, is there any advantage to a Wankel from a
financial perspective (Help me to understand why a 250
horsepower air cooled engine designed in the 1940's costs more
than a mobile home. And roller lifters for 2400 RPM

I'm supposed to think this is a good thing because the added
complexity is to offset the fact that people leave their engines
sitting so long that the lifters rust the cam).  Many Thanks and
living the simple life,

Ralph Fairchild


Well most people on here asked the same questions.  The Wankel
burns auto gas which is a 25% savings.  A brand new RX8 Wankel
engine at Your local Mazda dealer is $5800.  If you have a buddy
in the car repair biz the whole sale price is $3800.

However you will have to get a gear box for $3000 or make your
own. Then there is the intake and ignition system.  Could cost
you another $1200 or so off the shelf or make you own for less
than a couple hundred.

All depends on your skills.  While you are laid off take a tig
welding class and a class in basic electronics. A class in
machining would be handy as you can use the schools machine
tools to build a 250 HP p-port engine.


Paul Lamar



The Rocket is setup for a parallel valve ("light weight") IO-540 with

a CS prop.  That's probably about 400lbs (guess) firewall-forward.

That's probably about 100lb's heavier than a 13b  Turbocharge it...

Electrically adjustable prop.



Matt-


Thanks for the ideas. It's nice to not feel alone.

Ralph