Can the rotary engine be used, or modified to be used, in a vertical
 position, ouput shaft end up? I have a helicopter project. I'm new to
 the newletter so this may have already been answered.

 Thanks, John

 I don't know how long it would last. The cooling oil drain back
 from the rotors would not work well. I would not take the
 chance.

 One of the best helicopter designs I have seen so far is the Ultra Light
 Mosquito. All shafting and gearing runs at high RPM up until it
 gets to the rotor head. This is the key feature that makes
 this helicopter light weight  enough to qualify as an Ultra Light.

 This is the lightest weight gear train possible
 as high torque implies heavy shafts and gears. Helicopters,
 like airplanes, fly on HP. HP is RPM times Torque divided by a constant.
 It is necessary to get the HP from the engine up to the rotor head
 and out to the tail rotor. The best and lightest  way to do this is keep
 the RPM up and the shafts small in diameter and use small light weight
 gears wherever possible. Then use final drive speed reducers or
 torque increasers near the rotor head and tail rotor.


 Paul Lamar

 So in this case you could use a relatively light weight bevel
 gear box on the output shaft of the rotary and then use a belt
 reduction near the rotor head. The rotary torque is only about 200
 foot pounds for a p-port.

 Paul Lamar

Paul,
Thanks for the input. The Mosquito is very good. I'm very familiar
with it and have a similar drive on my helicopter. Even though the
Mosquito would leave the ultra-light class with even a couple more
pounds weight it would be very nice to use a reliable light weight 4
stroke rather than a 2 stroke. That's why I'm interested in the
rotary. I think it would only take a single rotor to produce the
necessary 60-70 hp. I've always considered rotary to be a viable
helicopter engine. I heard of a Hughes 269A that was converted to
Mazda rotary.

Thanks, John

Since you need only 60 to 70 HP that shines a different light
on the subject. Now I am not sure this engine will run vertical
but it is not oil cooled like the Mazda. It might very well run
in a vertical orientation. AIXRO are working on an all aluminum two
rotor version of thier 50 HP Kart engine.

Contact Poul Henrik Woelfle AIXRO <ph.woelfle@woelfle-engineering.com>

They would have a lot to gain working with you as you would be
doing the helicopter R&D for them for free. A priceless service
for an engine manufacturing company.

Here are some pictures of their oner rotor product.

Paul Lamar