Hey Tracy;

Lost that email where you told me what radiator you are using and who makes it.  Also, getting ready to make a decision on oil cooling.  Who makes the water/oil cooler system I've heard about, and does it work???

Thanks again;

Greg

----- Original Message -----

From: Mike Wills

To: Rotary motors in aircraft

Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 8:40 PM

Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Hairy Chested Heroes

Yeah, kind of disappointing for a bare bones day VFR airplane. I know where some of the excess weight is:

 

1) Ran a ground cable to the batteries in the baggage compartment. Thats 6 - 7 feet of 0 gauge copper. Paranoid about ground loops/noise in such an electrically dependant airplane. Could use the airframe as a ground and loose that.

 

2) Made the exhaust header out of .062" 321 stainless. I'm sure it could have been .030" and would still live for many years.

 

3) All the fuel and oil plumbing is Earls braided stainless. And the oil plumbing is pretty long.

 

4) Some of the brackets are a little over built.

 

5) I have 2 Odyssey PC625 batteries. If I had Tracy's courage I could loose 1 battery and 13.5 pounds.

 

I probably should have mentioned that 1027 pounds includes full oil and coolant. I dont know if you guys are including that in empty weight. Never understood why the manufacturers dont include oil in empty weight - not like you can fly very far without it.

 

Anyway, looks like my gross weight is going to be around 1650 rather than the 1500 Vans recommends. At least the CG looks good. All possible combinations are within the limits. This probably due to my custom cowl which let me move the engine a little forward from normal.

 

Mike Wills

RV-4 N144MW

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: David Leonard

To: Rotary motors in aircraft

Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 7:15 PM

Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Hairy Chested Heroes

Mike,

Mine came in at 1090 which is midline for an RV-6 with a FP-prop.  Darn good for a day/night IFR RV-6 with 200h.p., though I probably (definitely) gained a few pounds with the latest cowl, radiator, muffler, foam sound proofing and 3-blade prop.  Waiting until after painting before I re-weight.  My CG is slightly aft of average.

Not sure where you are putting on the pounds, I thought for sure you would have been under 1000.

No matter, it's going to fly great!

Dave Leonard

On Sun, May 11, 2008 at 6:38 PM, Mike Wills <rv-4mike@cox.net> wrote:

I'm located at Brown Field in San Diego. 8000 feet of pavement at 500' MSL. Things could be a lot worse.

 

Weighed the airplane today. Either my wife and I or the airplane, or both need to go on a diet. 1027 pounds empty. Was hoping for less than 1000. For the RV guys, how did your empty weight come out? Incidently, with batteries in the baggage compartment the CG looks good.

 

Mike Wills

RV-4 N144MW

----- Original Message -----

From: Perry Mick

To: Rotary motors in aircraft

Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 10:31 AM

Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Hairy Chested Heroes

Mike, what airport are you doing your first flight out of?


----- Original Message -----

Not sure I really wanted to read the bit about after takeoff engine failure at this point. Too close to first flight to have that put in my head. I'll probably appreciate this a lot more after I get some flight hours under my belt.

 

Mike Wills

RV-4 N144MW

--
David Leonard

Turbo Rotary RV-6 N4VY
http://N4VY.RotaryRoster.net
http://RotaryRoster.net