bexrbetter

As I've been travelling around, one of the big issues in the electorate is good runways with good lighting for air ambulance to land.

While Australia keeps drowning catering for a way over the top Social Security system, poor criminal prevention policies, Immigration issues, etc, etc, and words that don't express my opinion about Local, State and National Governements treatment of small business, then there will be no money to support local hospital and emergency medical services helping nullify the need for air ambulance services in the first instance. Fix Australia and you get your runway lights as a subsequence.

 

Stopping the closing and upgrades of air strips in country towns...

Again a subsequence, it comes from the top, it's the wealth of the country as a whole that makes this happen and I would like to see you mention policies directed there rather than throwing around "free propellers for anyone who votes for me" in an airplane forum.

 

BTW, could you please declare if "Australia Made" and "Australia Grown" are commercial profit making companies and by being on the Board of both do you have a vested interest to promote them or not thanks?

 

 

The hottest parts of the combustion chamber should be burned first, in theory. Nev

Indeed, so why is the other one disturbing flow, getting wetted and in the coldest spot?

 

 

You remind me ...

 

On a tangent, late last year I was hosting a South African client and he is a mad base jumper with over 500 jumps and everywhere we drove around the city his head was hard against the windscreen looking for ideal places to jump from!

 

 

Hi Xiar,

 

Nice post, thanks for taking the time for you're report.

 

That they tried different spark plug positions ending up with one generally where it should be yet the other exactly where it should not be and based on them being symetrical I find a litle odd.

 

Yes EFI or rather the correct fuel metering, has the ability to keep things much cleaner and increase ring and bore life through less bore-washing from rich mixtures and of course less carbon or soot build up.

 

Genuinely interested in the "tweaks" twice mentioned.

 

No one in their right mind is going to knowingly sell a poor design.

Sadly, historically far from the truth of the matter.

 

 

When I drive down the street looking for a certain side street and suddenly see it, I don't slam on the brakes and desperately try to turn like some do putting myself at risk, I go past and casually find the next street or a clear area further up to turn back.

 

It seems to me some of these accidents happen, on face value anyway, through pilots struggling to get into position when they could just relax and go around again. Maybe the concentration of making the runway is draining the brain's resource of understanding what the plane is doing at that moment?

 

Forgive me if my analogy is way off, it's a casual observation and not directed at this particular incident.

 

 

The same meeja people can't understand why most of us common folk don't just luuuurv their boss lady, what's er name.

I recently sent 4 or 500 emails out to Parlimentarians and Senators (yes we really have that many) explaining what China, you know, Australia's biggest source of income, thinks of Gillard (factually and politely) and what she should do about it - not one single reply.

 

All I can say is she is either culturally niave, ignorant or doing it intentionally but it is hurting Oz whatever the reason and quite a number of billions have been invested elsewhere recently that were considered to go to Oz and quite worryingly, trends amongst businessmen are big here.

 

 

Great result, even though they "walked away", I hope there's nothing more than cuts and bruises and at worst a few broken bones and a speedy recovery.

 

 

Not the worst thing you could be seen in hey, very nice also if function follows form,

 

 

But it's an opinion and judgement a heck of a lot more substantiated than anyone else on this thread....

Finished here except to mention that everything has it's place in the laws of physics and those laws can not be broken or bent by opinions.

 

Also read as "Don't shoot the messenger"!

 

 

Still needs radiators and other cooling requirements

Thanks Damkia.

 

And when servicing or your TBO comes up you will be at their mercy for parts, good luck when the nikosil lining need replacing too - that light weight comes at a proven financial risk. http://kustom-kraft.com/NEWNIKASIL.html

 

According to their site about 19000 Euro (AUD$23500-24000) plus freight etc.

What is with that price, this is supposed to be a simpler and easier engine to produce using less parts, so why isn't it cheaper? Don't understand it myself, why not base your design around proven commercially available parts such as a Lancia Gamma or Subaru 2.5 crank and rods amongst other choices and just whip up your own engine cases to suit requirements.

 

.All the speculation in the world on the merits and failings .

Ain't speculation Geoff, Flatheads were once the most common of mass produced engines and at one point made up 95% of all engines in the world, notice any around these days?

 

At least you have BEEN TO THE FACTORY and FLOWN BEHIND ONE............

10 minutes does not maketh an engine.

 

 

The side valve/flathead may be old style, but its high, flat torque curve is ideal for a direct drive, low rpm aircraft engine. The original flathead complaint of poor breathing isn't really a problem at 3000 rpm.

.

It is old and it has problems, it's advanatages are size and weight (very tempting for this application of course), everything else is technically lower and any overhead valve engine can make a better torque curve hands down at any rpm point.

 

The poor breathing is an issue at any rpm beacause swirl and surface wetting can not be controlled therefore complete atomisation can not be had simply wasting a lot of fuel each burn. Dirct Injection would seriously help but this engine is port fed, certainly helps a little with atomisation but no cigar.

 

Iit has some very clever and subtle design tweaks - many modern techniques like flow visualisation weren't around when the original design went out of fashion.

Really? Sorry I can't see them, the valves appear to be equi-centered and the spark plugs are positioned poorly which annoys the hell out of me as they knew they had to have 2 for aviation so why not take advantage of that. I don't see anything special about the heads, no flame troughs, no swirl inducers etc, so I simply don't believe there is any modern takes on it - ceramic heads would have impressed me though.

 

Ref the comments about efficiency and fuel burn, the D-Motor is actually better than the Jabiru thanks to the full EFIand the fact you are not running a carby excessively rich to try and cool the valves.

Well lets compare a Rotax with EFI then shall we rather than a carby Jabiru? What's the concentration on comparing it to a Jabiru about?

 

Cooling exhaust valves and seats on a Flatty is a huge issue, you are just plain wrong to make that comparison to any OHV engine. Localised cylinder distortion and valve burning/seat distortion in Flatty's is a key reason as to why OHV engines came to be a prefered choice. How they have designed their exhaust valve seat area will be crucial and may make or break them.

 

If a valve fails or sticks in the Jabiru (not uncommon) one way or another it meets the piston, the engine is toast and you have a problem.

I'm not a Jabiru fan and am aware of some of their issues, but do you have statistics that valve siezure has caused piston failure leading to utter and complete engine failure on the Jabs or other? From what I have learnt and seen so far Jabiru's problems seem to be constant, costly and annoying but not killers.

 

If a valve fails or sticks in the Jabiru (not uncommon) one way or another it meets the piston, the engine is toast and you have a problem. Should the same happen in a flathead you just continue to run on 3 cylinders which should get you safely on the ground.

and all the valve does is rise till it contacts the cylinder head, rather than drop into the bore and ruin everything.

The side valve certainly has advantages, and the ability to keep running on 3 is intriguing.

These are blanket statements rather than factual. I have seen many a OHV engine drop a valve and continue running on with bits or the actual valve head imbedded in the combustion chamber or piston (plenty of evidence on the net if you look but of course the more dramatic failures are more common for their shock value) as I have seen them also break a piston and come to a very smoky stop (but still running). Anyone who thinks parts of a Flatty's valve head or stem can't get to the cylinder is simply wrong, safer yes for such things as spring breakage, but impossible? - absolutely not, so don't carry that sense of false security around.

 

Anyway, not against it, just putting up technical arguments and corrections about Flattys (hey it's Sunday morning!) and, as mentioned, they are disadvantaged but the lower frontal area and lower weight advantages may make up the differences and it may actually put it ahead of it's competition if done properly.

 

Does anyone have a price on these engines? Might all be a moot point if they want the world for them.

 

 

One thing that lets a Flatty down is large chamber surface area allowing large amounts of heat to escape rather than pushing your pistons down the bore and turning your crank with full efficiency.

 

This will lead to higher fuel consumption which may or may not be offset by the more aerodynamic smaller frontal area it can offer depending on people taking advantage of that or not.

 

I'm not a believer in going backwards so I'll put up rather than shutup

 

 

Gidday, I'm in cahoots with that Bex fellow.I used to fly aeroplanes, but now I don't, but I might be again some time.

Gold Coast lad here.

Oh no, he bloody well found me again

 

Actually Billzilla is understating himself ... some great reading here http://www.billzilla.org/aviation.htm

 

 

Hi Guys,

 

I was chatting to Rob yesterday and he is quite tied up at the moment with the MIB and a bit stressed about it so I'm sure he will be back to report in due course.

 

 

Carbon build up in the combustion chamber could cause detonation but that won't show in an oil test. Nev

Indirectly does and quite accurately so, shows up fuel and/or exhaust dilution, both of which will probably result in carbon build up.

 

One of the chief benefits of regular oil analysis is the ability to monitor trends in your engine..

Exactly.

 

 

wow lots of posts deleted here. Why?

Because Ian keeps a nice decent forum, great to see.

 

 

Sounds like a serious plan. It would be great for Oz if you can make it work. We have some talented designers around the place.rgmwa

Thanks and yes there is some great talent in Oz, always has been,

 

I'm like everybody else, I don't want to see manufacturing going elsewhere, hell I wondered around many thriving workshops as a kid in the 60's and went with Dad to Repco for example when he would order special custom piston sets made in Tassie and other Repco stuff made by Repco so yeah, I'm sad to have seen the changes over the last 50 years.

 

But it's a fact of the World to what has been happening and what will happen over the next 10 years so if I can take an Oz manufacturer who makes say 4 or 5 planes a year currently and turn that into 40 or 50 sales overseas then at least you would think that more money is going to end up in the Oz pool helping someone somewhere - darn sight better than losing that manufacturer altogether and that's on the cards for some sadly.

 

 

The biggest issue would be a suitable engine at a reasonable cost.If you were really interested in some sort of manufacturing exercise then a 120-130hp engine for the uncertified market (with certified version to follow) would be a good start.

It's already happening but I need do the proper thing by the forum as per rules of manufacturer's anouncements, I have been run off my feet in recent weeks and I just plumb forget to organise it. So with respect, you will have to wait a few days!

 

 

I think it would be very hard to create a viable new aircraft industry anywhere,

Hi rgmwa,

 

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

With Ian's gracious permission, I can mention that I am on a program to secure an Australian design, produce it in China and market it Internationally.

 

I am aware of a number of startups happening in China right now with French and American companies and have had various offers from them myself but I am desperately trying to do this with an Oz company so all profits come back to Oz.

 

I have been in contact with all the obvious major Oz manufacturers and some minor ones so do not require suggestions of who to approach for those kind enough to offer, thanks.

 

Good luck.

I hope that still applies after the above comments!!

 

I offer that my intentions are good for Oz, my children and grand children are Australian and I do car about their future.

 

 

I came home from the pub 5 minutes late last night, slapped her on the ass and said "You're next"..

 

Imagine getting hit on the head with a pan for being just 5 bloody minutes late!!

 

 

Thanks very much for your reply Jim.

 

I was just curious more than anything, any knowledge is good knowledge! ;-)

 

 

I can only presume that the Rotax is a very low pressure system to avoid fire risk and therefore can suffer vapourising.

 

Hot or cold start problems are virtually unheard of in modern automotive EFI systems but if you ever saw just how far and fast they spray fuel you might be concerned having those pressures in a plane.

 

 

rebuilding engines in a motel carport, and you have a go at others swinging $2 spanners lol sounds like your justified on that one also.

I have some Queensland and Victorian Rally titles aquired with my power units and I have done my fair share of rebuilds in motel carparks too so don't be too hard on that point!

 

But anyway, on topic, from my experience the combination of cam, lifter and crank scoring all adds up to oiling issues, wrong specific, too hot or filter issues. I thought you Flying guys always sent your oil samples out to be tested every change? Strongly suggest cutting your oil filters in half every oil change too to check for materials that shouldn't be there but also to check the quality of your brand oil filter, are they cheating you with a smaller filter area inside and is the bypass valve crap?

 

Loctite does not change the nut or bolt torque values FWIW but oil on the threads will.

 

 

First I want to declare openly and honestly that I am a potential plane manufacturer and that's why I am interested to learn more opinions about the market place.

 

KGWilson mentioned in another thread ...

 

there has been a lot of interest since he emailed the Mk 2 sketch to various people. It has sort of gone viral in an aviation sense. It seems a number are making the trek to Taree to check the Cougar out..

May I ask opinions if that is due to it being the "Morgan Cougar" or that it's a light sports (affordable?) 4 seater? (or all of course!).

 

Please note I was not seeking opinions on the aircarft itself, just how it or any LS4 is a fit into the market place.

 

Thanks :-)

 

Mark.

 

 

After reading all this I don't understand why the majority of gliders are white.