Paul,  Good year for Team Steadfast this year at  Reno.  4th in Unlimited
Gold proves the turtle can outrun the rabbit! This was a  case of
reliability and not having issues bringing in a good starting  position
that became critical when the final race was canceled due to very  high
cross winds. The finishing positions were determined by the starting
grid.  If the race had been run, Voodoo and Galloping Ghost would bothhave
gone right around us and we would have finished 6th, assuming no mayday's
ahead of us (we know there would have been at least 1).  Sport and Super
Sport had a bad rash of blown engines..... as in 5 blown  engines, one
ending in the loss of the Thunder Mustang. Thankfully George  walked away
from the wreck.  Look for us to have a 3 rotor entry in sport class in
2013 (I did get the  rules changed to allow us to run under the SCCA
displacement calc rules,so  less than 650 cubic inches).

Larry

The Thunder Mustang motor is one and a half of a Ford or Chevy V8.  What
does one expect ? :)

Paul Lamar

Larry, Great job this year you guys!  The plane looks great and
running well. I enjoyed hanging out and chatting a little on friday night.I
am really stoked about the races, it is fun stuff.  I plan to bring
myturbo 2-rotor RV-6 to the pylon school in June (mostly for fun).  If I
canqualify at faster than 200mph, I may even run at the far back of the
sportpack next Sept.--David LeonardTurbo Rotary RV-6
N4VYhttp://N4VY.RotaryRoster.nethttp://RotaryRoster.netYou guys should pay
George Periera a visit and get a set of plans for hisGP-5.  It's about the
right size for a three-rotor and it's already designedfor a liquid-cooled
engine.  It looks like a nice flying airplane too!

Steve Brazil


Yes but it is wood :)

Paul Lamar

The DeHavilland Mosquito was wood too--nature's composite.  Modern epoxies
make wood a reasonable material.  Another thing, the GP-5 is the only
design
of this type made to race in the 400mph range. I don't know if NXT kits
are
still available and I think they wanted $250K for the kit.  I think you
could build a GP-5 for a lot less.  Check this out: http://airpigz.com/

http://airpigz.squarespace.com/storage/large/GP-5_Reno_2010_Before_Races.jpgYou
couldn't ask for a slicker, prettier airplane!

Steve-----




The GP-5 being flown by Lee at Reno this year had an all aluminum small
block chevy in it.
Dry sump with electronic fuel injection. Lost a couple of pistons and had a
mayday landing.
Cool looking airplane, but too many moving parts in the engine!
Larry

If I had a $1000 for every automotive V8 ever tried in an airplane
I would be a millionaire. Hope springs eternal.

The key is spend a little time studying the strength of
materials mechanical engineering course taught in every college.

Paul Lamar