Ed Anderson
Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 475
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 5:39 am Post subject: R&D Risks was : Re: Subaru down |
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--> RV-List message posted by: "steveadams" <dr_steve_adams(at)yahoo.com (dr_steve_adams(at)yahoo.com)>
Shoot me, but this whole auto conversion thing is still in the snake oil stage. Everyone wants something better than the lycoming and Continental offerings, and people tend to see what they want to see and ignore or minimize the rest. It is laudable that some want to be a part of developing the dream of a more modern, consistently reliable aircraft engine; but pretending that that engine is available today in the 120HP and up range is wishful thinking at best and approaches delusional at worst. So I say good luck and thank you to those doing the R+D with these engines, because someday due to your hard work and acceptance of the risk, we will all benefit. Just don't pretend that you are not participating in the R+D of an as yet unproven technology.
Won't shoot you Steve, You are absolutely correct, risk is always involved when trying something new (in fact even when using the tried and true).
Almost ever advance in aircraft design and performance of the aircraft you are flying today was at one point "Experimental". But, until a concept/approach is proven (and even then) it is Research and Development and carries a greater risk element. However, like almost everything else, if the risk is correctly recognized and approached properly means of minimizing (but, not elminating) the risk can be developed. You are absolutely correct, I tell folks that developing your own alternative engine installation is a miniature R&D project and like all such projects, it will cost you more and take longer than you ever planned. It takes a understanding of the requirements for each subsystem, a plan for developing and fabricating each, the installation and then the risky part - testing.
We have all seen the engine developments which appear year after year at the major EAA events, with all their potential promise - but, they never quite make it to the production stage. It is unfortunately that some (but not all or even the majority) of engines offered have unrealistic and unsubtanuated claims to power, performance and cost, this does not help the "snake oil" factor, you mentioned. However, there are many/most alternative engine projects which never have any objective of offering a product - we do it for a number of reasons, but seldom is it done because of a potential profit motive.
In this day and age, getting any sort of new type engine (no matter how good) into production status requires enomous resources, which given the limited market, this just doesn't seem to happen. The only one I am aware of is a Swiss Company which clearly has deep pocket support for their certification (which they have applied for) of a rotary derived engine. But, it will end up costing at least as much (probably more) as a Lycoming - so no magic bullet. But, this too started out as an experimental engine.
Engine model G300 C2B and Mistral proprietary DEM system
are presently undergoing FAA type certification
under FAA project number TC9823 AT-E.
http://www.mistral-engines.com/
Personally, I did it because of the technical challenge and the potential I saw in the rotary as an reliable aircraft engine. I certainly do not recommend taking this route for most folks. . As Tracy Crook (1600+ hours behind a rotary powered RV-4) stated - if you have to ask someone whether you should go the alternative engine route - you probably should not. I certainly would never entertain producing FWF kits of any engine - just too many things beyond the manufacture's control, too little profit and too much liability risk.
Best Regards
Ed
Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson(at)carolina.rr.com (eanderson(at)carolina.rr.com)
http://www.andersonee.com
http://members.cox.net/rogersda/rotary/configs.htm#N494BW
http://www.dmack.net/mazda/index.html
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_________________ Ed Anderson
Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
eanderson@carolina.rr.com |
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