In my search for a suitable rotary that can operate in a vertical
position I have learned that Austro Engine (formerly Mid-West) can
provide a proven and available engine the AE50R (about $26,000) and
the soon to be released AE75R that will both operate in any position.
If you want to see a beautiful little rotary engine visit the web
site: http://www.austroengine.com

It's expensive, but I wouldn't hesitate to fly one.

John McEverett

Over 500 of the 50 HP version has been sold for motor gliders.

Paul Lamaar
--

Paul, What is the link to your youtube video on the Austro Engine?
John

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXAEx_cMDU8

Paul Lamar

Possible think twice issue.

While Austro (Diamond/Midwest) engine is touted to operate in any position, I would be wary.

OMC had a dynamite rotray outboard engine which wiped all of the competition away (vertically mounted.) The problem was that the engine would eat itself because of lubrication problems dealing with gravity. Perhaps Diamond has solved that problem, but I doubt it. Their engine is actually a Norton Mororcycle engine (in 1/2) and other than coatings of the trochoids, electronic ignition and EFI, as well as replacing the plastic tubing with SS, I doubt whether much work, other than publicity has been done on it.

I had a 2 rotor AE110R in my dragonfly, a great engine (then built by Midwest, updated by Midwest when Diamond took it over). A great little engine. I did have an engine failure, and my contact with Diamond yielded the "Pound sand" stance and they quickly bankrupted Midwest, fired all of the employees of it. Then engines then reappeared as Austro. (sounds like the Bellanca assets always being bought by the same couple after they bankrupted the companies.)

There is one problem with the Austro/Diamond/Midwest/Norton engine, other than my concern with orientation, that is that the rotors are cooled with a spray of oil (that thing that looks like a turbine is actually an air pump for this purpose). The oil/air mist is routed into a separator (basically a humidifier evaporator pad) which reclaims about 1/3 of the oil used for lubricating the bearings and cooling the rotors. --So far so good.-- The oil that is injected into the trochoids (through the throttle body(s) and is consumed in the combustion process, however the oil used for bearings and cooling, that is not reclaimed, is exhausted with the cooling air, unburned. Every flight yielded a sticky oil covered wheel pant.

Additionally, in the past, I don't know about now, the selection of oils was incredibly restricted. My memory tells me that there were only 3. 2 very expensive synthetics, and one from Mobile, a Pegasus oil (I think 510) which was designed for natural gas powered engines, only available in 55 gal drums (anybody interested in about 53.5 gal of the stuff??)
Premix in the tanks doesn't cut it as a separate feed for cooling/bearing lubricating oil is vital.

Loved the engine, wouldn't get it again. Renesis is hanging on my Aerocanard and is being built up.

Rich

The Rotary Engine NewsLetter. Powered by Linux.
ACRE NL web site. http://www.rotaryeng.net
Youtube key word PaulLamar2
Copyright 1998-2010 All world wide rights reserved.