OK guys, its bad I admit it. We were banking on a change that didn't
happen. I was told years ago that there are 2 kinds of people- radiators
and drains. Radiators give off, drains suck it up. It seems that the number
of drains are outnumbering the radiators.
The good news is that with so many drains we aren't likely to drown anytime
soon. The bad news is that us radiators seem to be on our own.
Most of you know that I used to own and run a big company with way too
close to 100 employees, and I did so starting at 19. Many of us here are
wired just that way. So, now comes the beginning of a solution to our
problems- sort of. We can all agree that Government will not be helping us
be able to fly our planes. Gas is going up, fees are likely going up,
places that I have landed try to send me tax bills, etc. (no kidding). So
its up to us to make it happen.
I was on a board this morning before church reading several derogatory
statements about using alternative engines in our planes. It seems that
people just dont understand what we are trying to do, and are not willing
to do any work ourselves. This mentality parallels the issues with Linux.
While I use Linux for almost all of my work, many people are not willing to
try to learn it or see why its better than Windows. So, as far as our
planes goes, here is my plan:
With the help of Paul and everyone else on this board, I want to try to
develop first a working installation that can be mirrored to other planes
that are being built. When someone asks for a FWF we might be able to say
"no, but we can show you exactly how others have done it and what you will
need".
To do this I think we will need a few things- like an adapter plate of
sorts that will allow the Rotary to replace the Lycoming with the
dyna-focal mount. Those things are everywhere, and used on many smaller
planes. This gives the builder the option of swapping out the engine easily
to or from the Lycoming if he decides to.
Next, a standard EFI system with mechanical backup. I know from experience
that the stock Mazda coils will fire from the CAS without an EFI at
anything over 800 rpm. So given this, with a mechanical fuel delivery
system we have non-electrical redundancy. I like that. It can be as simple
as a throttle actuated regulator tied to the standard mixture control like
we are used to. If the computer goes out, you have a simple leanable
manuable system. Pilots will not accept our alternative engine without a
backup system.
I have heard that each installation is so different that we all are
reinventing the wheel with each installation- maybe so but not necessary.
Tom's Lancair is close enough to mine that I should be able to use much of
his data to speed up my installation. But without a flight to Texas, its
not readily available to me. Tracy's RV10 20b is functional and simple- but
the installation details are not out there for the world to see. We need to
change this.
I just bought a PSRU with several spare parts. I now have enough materials
and info to possibly have more input into the design of the more simple
PSRU unit.
If we are to get more people flying, we need to reduce the costs of not
only flying but of keeping an airplane in the air. This starts with an
affordable airplane from the outset. Affordable airframe, engine and
avionics. I spoke to a man yesterday at the EAA fly in- he is building an
RV-7. His budget is 30K for airframe, 40K for engine, and 30K or more for
avionics. He estimates that it will take him 5 years to save the money.
What if he could spend 30K on the airframe, 15 on the engine and 5 on the
electronics? Half price I am thinking.
I will order a new tablet in the next day or so- it is a cheap unit but it
has an Intel processor. There is a version of Linux out for ARM processors,
but I am hoping the current lightweight versions that are already ported to
an Intel processor will work with the Intel based tablet. The tablet will
run windows7, which means it isn't an ARM version. Lets hope- this will
allow our linux programs to work natively on the tablet.
Also, I am still working on the Arduino board that is ported to Android-
the plan is this: For a few hundred dollars we can have a good android
tablet (or 2) on our panels. These tablets will display engine info etc.
from the EFI board, and allow us to tune our engines from the tablet touch
screen too. Also, we can run apps such as the Garmin pilot on both units
giving a backup. There are gyroscopic boards and chips out now that will
allow us to interface the G reading boards like are in our phones to mag
chips for direction and gyro chips to confirm our spatial position. The end
results will be affordable, redundant electronic guidance. And in my case,
behind the tablets will be the usual compliment of steam gauges including 2
VORs. I really like redundancy.
I have said for a long, long time that if you spend all your life chasing a
dollar, you wont ever catch it. And if you wait for someone else to help
you, you will be waiting a long time. Its up to us to make our own destiny.
Nowadays, I give my time and talents to local organizations that need it, I
help who I can and all without money. We have enough to live on, and I can
devote time and talent to other things. I am willing to be the front so to
speak and try to see what I can do but I will need your help to make it
happen.
What do you guys think? Can we all work together to make flying cheaper for
everybody? Can we make flying in the US Open Source?
Kevin Alderman
I'm an open source kind of guy. I'll be helping where ever a poor guy
can. I can't even afford a bag of rivets. I'm so poor I can't even pay
attention. I'll be lurking waiting to see an opportunity to contribute.
I like your idea.
Mark LaPierre
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