There is a limited market for cut down motor plates with
 no motor mounts.
My
guess you will find less than five people willing to spend
 $250 to take out
2 or 3 pounds out of a flying example.
We need things with a higher priority than water pumps.
 The 2nd gen and 3rd
gen engines will become more scarce as times goes on and
 the RX8 pump is
fine as is. Also there is a light weight low cost aluminum
 cartridge
already
available for the 2nd gen and 3rd gen pumps.
Now 15 pounds out of the gear box with a $1000 dollar
 saving is another
matter :)
Paul Lamar

Did you have Something specfic
In mind or were you just tossing out an ideal.
Clifton
I new light weight gear box design that takes the best
 features of the 30
pound Ross and improves upon them. It also takes advantage
 of the recent
drop in NC milling cost to lower the price and the weight.
 I am shopping
for
a supplier of some of the harder to make parts as we
 speak. It will bolt to
Jeff's motor plate.  Tracy's box is about 40 pounds.
Paul Lamar
--
How about a version with a hollow shaft oil fed constant
 speed unit? That
would sell. Marc Wiese
That would be something I would not be interesting in
 getting into right
now
due to the
weight of the CS props. One has to choose the largest
 market possible when
one gambles
on a new product. If this one is successful in the market
 place well then
maybe a CS
version.
--
Paul Lamar

Paul,
Have you seen the Aerocomposites cs units?
http://www.aerocomposites.com/or
the MT, or Hoffman, for weight.....all are composite
 blade, oil fed
constant
speed units. Lighter weights. I've heard good reports from
 aerobatic (and
seaplane) pilots running some of them, esp the
 aerocomposite ones.
Marc Wiese
MT and Hoffman have electric versions as well.
Paul Lamar

Paul, others.
I have heard good things about Aero Composites but they
 are unwilling to
make a electric version.
This begs the question.Are electric C/S
 props  adequate for non
acrobatic flying?  If so it seems a shame to add the
 weight and
complexity of a belt driven prop governor, plus the
 hassles of the
hollow prop, shaft seals and  hoses etc.

Doug in  Japan.
Mark Steitle runs one so lets ask him. Mark how well does
 it work?

Paul Lamar

 Paul,

 Bobby Hughes and I are both running 3-blade M/T electric
 props and we're
 both very happy with it.  I get great takeoff &
 climb performance (6800 -
 7200 rpm) and once at a safe altitude, I can dial it back
 for a more
 economical cruise climb (6000 rpm), and finally to economy
 cruise (5100-5200
 engine rpm).  The best feature is that I can change
 the prop pitch in flight
 if I want go fast.

 Not having an adjustable prop would be like riding a
 centrifugal clutch
 Cushman motor scooter, if you remember what those were
 like.

 Mark S.

 Gee, Mark, are you that old?  How about a Salsbury scooter?

Joel
Over the Hill Materials E.



Mark, what model MT prop/diameter and controller did you install and do you
remember the cost or did it produce selective amnesia?

Also, some folks report their MT electric control system has a significant
lag period between input and pitch change, especially in pattern, etc,
although the last time I flew one with a rotary engine I don't remember it
being that bad.  You?


Steve Beckham