This is the best explanation on this subject I have seen
so far.

http://www.epi-eng.com/piston_engine_technology/power_and_torque.htm

Everybody should read it.

Paul Lamar



Hi Paul.

Thanks for the cc on the email telling of the tragic accident that took
Bud and his daughter.  He was an innovative guy.

Also, thanks for the kind words about my company and website.

It is indeed unfortunate that Bud viewed my engineering analysis of
PSRU's as being directed at his products. In fact, those PSRU Technology
pages had been up for several years before Bud's products became widely
known, and the negatives contained therein were prompted by the products
of a few charlatans in the field that preceded Bud's work.  To the very
best of my knowledge, all the stuff I have written is based on sound
engineering analysis and document-able experience with the
implementations of those principles. I welcome anyone pointing our
engineering errors in what is posted.

And after having read his "interesting exchange" page, I would say that
in spite of the editorial bias contained on that page, nevertheless the
content reflects exactly what I was trying to communicate to the inquirer.

The essential content of that exchange, while admittedly becoming a bit
harsh as the exchange progressed and the inquirer refused to comprehend
what I was saying, has not been fundamentally different throughout any
number of similar inquiries.

The facts still remain that (a) we do NOT provide any canned engine ume, Weight,
Cooking, Area, Fuel Economy, Currency.
conversions, (b) the custom stuff we do is usually well beyond the
budget of the usual homebuilder, and (c) I am swamped with work.  (I am
in the prototyping phase of a clean-sheet-of-paper 10.6 L, 60° V-12
with custom PSRU which will easily make in excess of 1200 reliable hp,
and final phases of developing custom power plant components for a very
competitive Reno racer).

Again, my compliments on your continued work in the field and your
obviously huge vat of patience.

Regards,
Jack Kane
Three-Letter-Company, Inc.

Hopefully it is a clean sheet design as you probably know I am
not a fan of adopting automotive light duty piston engines to aircraft
use. It is a stroke of luck the low cost Mazda Wankel rotary is so robust.
The Mazda bean counters have not yet figured out how to get the last nickel
out of it :)

Some of our rotary fans approached the Reno organizers to see how they
would respond to a turbo 4 rotor in the Sportsman class. It was not pretty :)
They limited us to a 3 rotor turbo which is only 237 cubic inches.
They expected us to compete in the under 720 cubic inch class.
Obviously the Wankel 4 rotor rotary reputation for durability and power scared
then half to death :)

I am preparing a modest air racer of my own but not
for such a highly specification regulated class as Reno.
I am a fan of the old "run what you brung" Can Am road racing
days so I will pick another venue.

Paul Lamar