Ernie,
I’m thinking you’ve
missed the point of the hat.
It’s not to create
even further division, it’s intended to unite.
If you’d rather not
be part of the auto conversion “group” then I recommend that you simply not
accept the hat.
I’ll respect your
decision.
Should you by chance
win “best auto conversion” I would recommend that you decline the honor as
well.
Maybe one day when
there are sufficient numbers of rotary engines at any given event (maybe
10+?), we’ll be glad to sponsor the “Best Rotary” engine award, but maybe the
three rotor guys and the upcoming single rotor guys won’t want to be lumped
with the twin rotors... or maybe the turbo guys won’t want to be associated
with the N/A guys, and of course we couldn’t possibly have the EFI guys be
compared to the knuckle-dragging carb guys. And what if (heaven forbid)
someone show up with a direct-drive rotary??? Or (gasp! A Norton!!!) Or a even
a 10a or 12a???
With or without a
logo, the words on the hat and the spirit in which it was created (and
presented) would remain the same. Auto Power. We see the effort of building
and flying an automobile engine powered plane to OSH as the accomplishment we
want to honor, and not because it’s “better” than a certified engine, but more
because it takes creativity and a true EXPERIMENTAL spirit. THAT is what we
want to honor.
But what if the logo
had two rotors and one piston, would that be
better?
If so, consider this:
Each piston represents one four-stroke cycle that requires two revolutions of
the crank. Coupled together (180º apart or in-line),
the two pistons represent one power episode per crank
revolution.
Each rotor face
represents one four-stroke cycle that requires three revolutions of the crank
to complete. There are three faces, obviously coupled together; creating an
assembly that also represents one power episode per crank
revolution.
That being said, the
image of two pistons and one rotor represent equality and unity among true
experimenters.
I also have to ask
what you drive... Any boingers in the driveway?
I personally have a
few boingers, all Mazda of course (a Mazda6 wagon, an MPV, a B2600i and a
Protégé) but I also have an ’04 RX-8 and a 2nd Gen (third one to
date... and not my last by any stretch) under
construction.
In the hangar on the
other hand, nothing I have under construction can handle a rotary so my
composite Dragonfly is set up to receive a 100 HP Corvair and the magazine’s
all-aluminum CH601XL currently has a 100 HP 3000cc VW mounted up. My
tube-and-rag Rans S-10 Sakota has a Rotax. Since I also like Corvair engines,
I have a 1965 180hp Turbo Corsa project car parked next to the RX-7 project
car.
Pat
On a side note, we’ll
be showcasing (in our booth at OSH) a commercial effort to bring the Elippse
propeller to market. Two- three- and four-blade constant speed or ground
adjustable are now available. We have an awesome article in our current
issue. Weighing in at 32-33
pounds for a three-blade version, is it something that Tracy’s redrive can
handle?
From:
Rotary motors in aircraft
[mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of Ehkerr@aol.com
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2007 3:26
AM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: AirVenture
Souviner
In a message dated 7/15/2007
6:34:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time, wgeslick@gmail.com
writes:
On 7/14/07, Patrick Panzera <Panzera@experimental-aviation.com>
wrote:
Hey Gang!
My good friend
William Wynne (noted Corvair guru http://www.flycorvair.com/)had
this
brilliant idea; we will be giving special commemorative ball caps
to
everyone who arrives at AirVenture 2007 piloting an experimental
aircraft
powered by an automobile (or motorcycle)
engine.
Pat, I am uneasy with the 2
pistons and 1 rotor art on your ball cap. Pistons are anathema to the
rotary community. It would be better if there were two versions of the cap:
one with pistons and one with a rotor. I don't believe Rotary people will wear
a hat with pistons. It is not the category of automotive conversions we
sponsor but rather, specifically, Mazda rotary engines -- and we emphasize
without pistons.
Get a
sneak peak of the all-new AOL.com.