Thanks Rusty and Finn, glad to hear that
they don’t tend to windmill … I have the 2.85 drive.
Can’t say I understand why they don’t,
as the relative force to turn over the Rotary is significantly less than a Lycoming
or any other auto conversion.
The Lycoming won’t windmill either,
but they can be air-started in a dive.
Jeff (hoping to never experience either)
From: Rotary motors in aircraft
[mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of Russell Duffy
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006
8:29 PM
To: Rotary
motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: EAA 782
meeting
One concern I have is if the engine fails
there is nothing in the design of any gear box and a Rotary engine to stop or
reduce propeller wind milling.
Has anyone experienced an engine out and
have any testimonies as to what happens?
I think it's pretty well established that
there will be no windmilling at any reasonable speed. I can personally
confirm that the 2.85 drive will not windmill up to 110-120 kts or
so. I still have a perfectly clear mental image of the prop sitting at
10:00-4:00 position :-0
The 2.17 drive would be more likely, but
I think it's been reported that it won't windmill either. If
anything, that may be a plus for PSRU's.
Rusty (mentally working on the single rotor
gyrocopter)
2.176:1 will definitely not windmill at pattern or glide speed for an
RV-3 (about 100 mph). Might make a 1/3 turn and stop again if you point it down
a bit. And that was with an engine that had rather low compression.
Tested several times over Clearwater Airpark.
Finn
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