Paul:

I've been reading with interest the RotaryEngine emails for about a year
now and have been thoroughly enjoying them. And as you know, I've been
sticking my nose into the middle of discussions from time to time, all
the while working on my HomeBrewedGlassPanel and building my Bearhawk
Patrol.

At some point, hopefully in the not too distant future, I will need to
commit to a power-plant for my project.  The Patrol airframe is designed
as a 2000# gross aircraft, but a few people are building them with the
intent to license them as LSA.  Most people are puting 0-320s and O-360s
in them, and with such power-plants they make Super Cubs look foolish.
However, designer, Bob Barrows, has flown one of his lightweight Patrols
with what I believe is nothing more than a souped up old 65 horse.  Bob
claims a guy can do a lot of flying with an O-200 installed in a Patrol.

The problem I see with trying to adapt a Wankel is that the Mazda
engines come in two sizes; too big and too small.  I really need some
degree of STOL capability where I live.  Realistically ... I would like
to have 150 hp available while keeping the weight down enough so I could
license the Patrol as LSA (if I am too old and feeble to fly a "real"
airplane by the time I get it done) :(

The idea of a single-rotor installation weighing less than 200# FWF
sounds appealing, but just how reliable might such a power-plant be.
Could it be run all day long at 100+ hp output? Could one get close to
150 HP for take-off without a turbo? Has anyone built a single-rotor out
of a Renesis, and would there be any advantage to that?

I'm sure I've read postings on what is necessary to cut an engine in
half to make a single-rotor, but do not have those messages in my
current computer.  Does one just need to cut the shaft off?  Or are
there more modifications needed to the short-block?

Sorry to hassle you with these questions that I know you've probably
answered many times before on your web site; I feel guilty even emailing
them to you.  So let's just summarize it all by me asking one simple
question ...  What would you do?

R. Berglund

I would go with one of Richard Sohn's one rotor engines.
It has been in the works for many years and Richard is a very meticulous engineer. It is now ready to fly. It will run at full power forever as it is extremely robust to say the least. Most moving parts are 2 rotor sized. The end housings are two piece to save weight yet still use the excellent wear advantages of porous cast iron.

No piston engine would come close to the durability of this engine.

Paul Lamar


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