Guys,

  Hope I'm not intruding here.  I've been reading all the emails for
a  couple weeks now.  Fascinating.  You guys are really interesting.
 I saw  Paul's articles on "compound turbo charging" while looking
for info on  V-8's for airplanes.  Been reading what I can find on
rotaries every  since.  I remember when they first came out with
them.  I thought they  were going to be the last word in engines.

  I used to ride bucking horses in the 70's and had a F model
Bonanza that  I rodeod in.  Loved that plane.  Could land it on a
wet runway in bad  cross wind with no problem.   Lear jet broke my
tail once when tied down  in Butte Mt.  Anaconda Mining had to rent
me a plane while my Bonanza  getting fixed.  Drove a new 182 for
little less than a month.  Put 100  hrs on it.  Hated it.  Like
flying a box kite.  Sold Bonanza when quit  rodeoing.  Bought a 180.
  No tail dragger time when I picked it up in  Maryland.  Flew for 2
yrs before accidentally learned to do wheel  landings.  Scary plane
til then.  Off the run way many times but never  damaged.

  All that to say that I have been thinking of building a plane for quite
  awhile.  I am a finish carpenter and can build balanced and blue printed
  V-8s.  Can also weld.  But, I am wondering if a person could put a
  rotary in a Bonanza.  Saw interesting article from EPI saying no.
What  do you think.  What about any production aircraft--like a
super cub.

  I'm a perfectionist.  If I build a rotary, I would probably want to
  turbo it and fuel inject it.

  Lastly, I'm wondering how hot it is at Oshkosh.  I'm not real good
at  dealing with heat but I would like to camp out if possible.
Would like  to be able to visit late and early instead of staying in
town and taking  the bus.  This I need to know asap so I can get a
room before all gone  if the bedroll is a no go.

  I won't bother you all with long emails again but just wanted to
say  hello and keep up the good and interesting work.  I'm going to
get involved.

  Van Vannoy

I 've been going to OSH every year. I can answer your question on how
hot it is in OSH ...I think it is hot, but I live up north where I
consider anything above 80F as hot.

Typical days at OSH are in the high 80s, mornings are typically
beautiful.
I usually go through the gates before 7 AM and thoroughly enjoy
myself until about 11AM, Around noon I start avoiding the hangars
and start looking for breezy shady places. One year it stayed cool
all week, was quite cool and beautiful for several days straight.
Nights are usually pleasant. Right now as I look out my window in N
Wisconsin, it is snowing, so maybe this year will be a cool one.

If you are considering a SuperCub, check out the Bearhawk 4-place or
Bearhawk Patrol (2-place ... a Supercub on sterioids). I am building
the Patrol. Plans available from designer Bob Barrows 540-473-3661
 or complete-kits/partial-kits from http://bearhawkaircraft.com/
There are usually a few Bearhawks at OSH, and Bob often flies to the
Supercub gathering in Johnson Creek ID in June.

Robin



Van,

What kind of flying; as in where do you intend to fly in and out of, are you
planning on? That as you know will dictate the type of plane. There are many
good kits out there. Kitplanes magazine has been doing a series on safety with
a kit manufacturer examined each month. Zenith, Lancair etc. I would recommend
looking at the articles to get an idea of the safety statistics for the kit
you may be looking for. Zenith STOL planes can use one or two rotor engines.
Two rotor would be best with Racing Beat aluminium end housings to keep weight
down. Lots of others available. Bounce ideas off the crew here. Most don't
bite. Lots of experienced people with a wide background base to get ideas and
info from. Keep looking at the news letter. Let Paul know where you are
located and he will likely know someone close to work with.

Dale Davies