I met Tracy several years ago at Oshkosh... he was very pleasant... I was totally unfamiliar with Mazda rotary engines for airplanes, but it quickly seemed a very good idea to me....
My humble opinion. I fly in the winter. I don't like preheating the engine, keeping it covered when I land, no heat in the cabin, worrying about shock cooling when I land... PITA. Auto engines are a MUCH better choice for me.
Also, tail wheels are built to take a LOT of stress. In most cases it is a leaf spring with three significantly large bolts connected to a welded bracket and the tail post. Is a 180 mph of wind going to "blow apart" a weld and three bolts? No, it's fine.
Regarding the negative comments about anchoring the fuselage by the tail wheel assembly... I'm no expert, but it seems that if the tail wheel is engineered to be strong enough for hard landings without snapping like a twig, then it can certainy withstand the incremental pressure exerted by this test. It's not made of pig iron.
I'm guessing there is a gear reduction box in there similar to a turboprop? Can't tell from the video, but I'm sure there'd have to be with 8k+ RPM engine behind it.
The Prop Speed Reduction Unit is specialty made by Tracy Crook "Real World Solutions" Bell FL. The one on the RV -8 is 2.85 to 1. 6 pinion planetary unit. cost is about 3.5k. the prop is about 2.3k
The fact still remains that is a automotive engine and auto engines have only had mild success at best when used in aircraft. Actually there are, like I said, way more heart ache stories then success stories... But either way a mans tendency to experiment has been the mother of many great inventions... I hope the owner has the best of luck...
Yup and engines never fail on airplanes and pilots never make stupid decisions... Oh wait I have buried my best friend and another good friend in the last 6 months due to plane crashes. Best of luck to you on your rotary.
I never said things don't happen. I know someone that crashed an HU-16 and still flies one, I've had a mid-air emergency in a 172, and I still can't wait until my next flight.
But thinks for the wish of luck, it certainly can't hurt.
Love rotaries. Love airplanes. Love those tailwheels that were designed (?) for so much drag load. Is it an accident that there wasn't an accident, or were RV8's orignally designed as carrier-based aircraft with arrestor hooks?
No kidding... I don't think Vans intended for you to anchor the aircraft by it's tailwheel for a full throttle engine test. LOL... I was thinking Darwin Award...
love the sound of the 3 rotor
JuanPapaNicolao 1 year ago
I met Tracy several years ago at Oshkosh... he was very pleasant... I was totally unfamiliar with Mazda rotary engines for airplanes, but it quickly seemed a very good idea to me....
xzqzq 1 year ago
Put that in my car
ghosthunter007 1 year ago
Dude put some wings on, you look naked.
Looks like lots of power, pretty sweet idle too. Can't wait to get mine done.
curea229 1 year ago
My humble opinion. I fly in the winter. I don't like preheating the engine, keeping it covered when I land, no heat in the cabin, worrying about shock cooling when I land... PITA. Auto engines are a MUCH better choice for me.
Also, tail wheels are built to take a LOT of stress. In most cases it is a leaf spring with three significantly large bolts connected to a welded bracket and the tail post. Is a 180 mph of wind going to "blow apart" a weld and three bolts? No, it's fine.
LostUpNorth715 1 year ago
WOW! Thats awesome, I cant wait to see it flying. Love the video.
BradleyAircraft 2 years ago
"I dunno, Jimmy Carl, I got it up to about 6 grand on the tach and the Jeep still won't budge... maybe we should call Triple A?"
TheRooster602 2 years ago
Regarding the negative comments about anchoring the fuselage by the tail wheel assembly... I'm no expert, but it seems that if the tail wheel is engineered to be strong enough for hard landings without snapping like a twig, then it can certainy withstand the incremental pressure exerted by this test. It's not made of pig iron.
ChristopherBix 2 years ago 2
Silky smooth! Powerful! Love it!
teslaman1 2 years ago
That thing sounds gnarly! Usually rotaries sound like a crap with short pipes. What is the exhaust configuration?
mulberry3 2 years ago
I'm guessing there is a gear reduction box in there similar to a turboprop? Can't tell from the video, but I'm sure there'd have to be with 8k+ RPM engine behind it.
gsxr750k2 3 years ago 2
The Prop Speed Reduction Unit is specialty made by Tracy Crook "Real World Solutions" Bell FL. The one on the RV -8 is 2.85 to 1. 6 pinion planetary unit. cost is about 3.5k. the prop is about 2.3k
Bobdeanperk 3 years ago
Crazzyyy RPM's of those rotarys
Matt3636 3 years ago
I do not get why people use weird non aircraft engines... I have heard of very few people have anything but heart ache stories.
R1Kyle 3 years ago
when the rotary was invented its original intention was airplanes
chtter 3 years ago
The fact still remains that is a automotive engine and auto engines have only had mild success at best when used in aircraft. Actually there are, like I said, way more heart ache stories then success stories... But either way a mans tendency to experiment has been the mother of many great inventions... I hope the owner has the best of luck...
R1Kyle 3 years ago
Some of us choose to make our own destiny. I, for one, plan on installing this exact same engine on a Bensen gyrocopter.
If it didn't work, it wouldn't work for anybody. This video, and many others that use rotary engines in small aircraft, prove that it's possible.
jameskgeary 3 years ago
Yup and engines never fail on airplanes and pilots never make stupid decisions... Oh wait I have buried my best friend and another good friend in the last 6 months due to plane crashes. Best of luck to you on your rotary.
BTW I am not anti plane, I fly a Sukhoi 29.
R1Kyle 3 years ago
I never said things don't happen. I know someone that crashed an HU-16 and still flies one, I've had a mid-air emergency in a 172, and I still can't wait until my next flight.
But thinks for the wish of luck, it certainly can't hurt.
jameskgeary 3 years ago
Love rotaries. Love airplanes. Love those tailwheels that were designed (?) for so much drag load. Is it an accident that there wasn't an accident, or were RV8's orignally designed as carrier-based aircraft with arrestor hooks?
jimdandyy 4 years ago
lol. they just have it hooked up to the car so it won't go zooming down the strip.
paradoxbox1 4 years ago
i see that, but what if the tailwheel broke off?
jimdandyy 4 years ago
it's about as likely as the whole fuselage coming apart. not very likely
paradoxbox1 4 years ago
not that i think the way they're testing it isn't dangerous, they should have tested the engine without it in the plane.
paradoxbox1 4 years ago
aircraft makes a great engine mount :)
aegismachina 4 years ago
No kidding... I don't think Vans intended for you to anchor the aircraft by it's tailwheel for a full throttle engine test. LOL... I was thinking Darwin Award...
kickZtailout 3 years ago
"Fuel pressure, check. safety harness, check. cock-pit, check. engine, check. propellar, check, cool silver paint job, check. wings.......WINGS......dang nab it. HEY CLEATIS, WE'S FORGOT THOSE DANG WINGS AGAIN!"
saken40 4 years ago 2
Oh my... I like!
dreamwvr 4 years ago