Subject: Tailwinds with Mazdas
From: paul lamar
Date: 1/11/2017, 12:38 PM
To: A10-Me-Earthlink


     Hey Rotary guys, hi Paul,

     Another surveying thread here.. sorry about all the questions lol

     How many W8... not particularly W10... Tailwinds have been converted
     to rotary successfully? I've seen a couple online at least but
     there's not much more info as far as I'm able to dig.


     A while ago, when I was a newly minted taildragger pilot, I purchased
     an old W8 and it's been sitting around not flying as much as it could
     be. I'm planning on converting it to a mazda once I get more info. I
     have a lycoming in it now and I have no idea what to do with the
     mounts...anything FWF at all.

     I'm heading to university this fall and I'm in no hurry to start the
     project but it would be nice to start the planning so I can yank the
     piston and sell it--I won't be flying much in school. It would be
     nice to work on it on the weekends eventually.

     Kim Kilk

     Over the years we have had a lot of interest in Tail Wind I don't
     recall anyone flying one yet.

     Unless you can tig weld I highly recommend our universal motor
     mount. See the attached pdf.

     Don't believe everything those knee jerk liberal professors tell you
     :-) They are in the commie  propaganda business :-) None of them have
     ever worked for a living  at a real job.

     Paul Lamar



     Okay, cool, thanks for the pics, it doesn't look too bad to do at
     all. I don't have the best tig welding skills around so I'll go with
     the universal mount. It looks very well designed! Maybe some tailwind
     guys will chime in eventually... or not.

     I think I saw a site selling custom made cowlings for rotary
     installations, I guess I could get them to make me one to avoid doing
     all of that composite work myself. If not or if they charge too much,
     then oh well. I'll do it myself.


     By the way, haha.. don't worry..I'll take those "commies" with a
     grain or two of salt. I'm just going for that sheepskin at the end of
     the 4 years... and to have an excuse to play with all their equipment
     (not that they'll probably let me... they won't). That's why I took
     gap years! I did it to gain and re-enforce the solid footing of what
     I stand for as a person and an engineer... I'm not all soft and
     malleable like the fresh out of high school kids. :-)

     Kim Klik

    The rotary is real small. If the Intake system is designed right it will
    probably fit the stock cowling.

    One of the main Tail Wind guys may be dead. Haven't heard from him in years.
    He ran a Tail Wind news letter.  In twenty years a lot happens. He did all our motor mounts.
    He built this adjustable mm welding jig. When he retired I invented the universal
    mount to compensate and eliminate the need for this elaborate jig.
    He also static tested the motor plate idea.

    I have lost 3 very good friends. In some cases younger than me.

    Obama nearly killed home built experimental aircraft because of the crappy economy.
    Fortunately it is picking up again already under Trump.


    Paul Lamar


Oh, okay then, yeah the cowl on this bird is pretty big, it might need some mods though. Here's a pic just to throw it out there. The metal is easy to work with I suppose.
Side note.. don't have a clue how many tailwinds are still flying. It was really by chance that I got mine, they're not so easy to find for sale INTACT and complete.
That is really sad about your friends... 20 years is a long time..
That jig is very clever but yeah it does look very elaborate. A bit beyond my skill level right now... that being said, the universal mount was a really good idea. I'll use it!

Oh yeah. and.. obama.. don't get me started on that guy...what a buffoon!!
I like how the economy has started improving and our hero Trump hasn't even officially taken office yet.. Good things are coming! :-)



Kim Klik

Kim, Take some courses in Rhino3D drawing. Absolutely essential for any engineer.
Here are some Rhino 3D's of the engine in the tail wind cowl. Lots of spare room.

Paul Lamar

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