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
Kevin this is a good concept me and Pierre Swanepoel are back in South-Africa
building Vision Ex aircraft.On this stage whe both have 13B `s that will be
converted for aircraft use.
Our problem is that with the exchange rate all parts from USA are more or less 8,5
times the ZA Rand very expensive for us.
I want to build the PSRU back here and will work together to get a reliable psru
It will be good as I can have your contact details.
I feel sorry for the guys with the election results. Back here in South-Africa whe
also have our doubts after the last 2 elections.But South Africa is still a great
country and whe pay all the taxes exct that will be implemented next year for you for
the last 8 years.
Together whe work on the rainbow nation to make a better living for all back here in
Africa.
Regards
Le Roux Breytenbach
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