Back in the 1930s, I believe it was Dodge that manufactured a car where the starter was also the generator. It must not have had a bendix to mesh with the flywheel because it was said to be very quiet when it started
                                   John


--- On Tue, 6/3/08, George Lendich <lendich@optusnet.com.au> wrote:

> From: George Lendich <lendich@optusnet.com.au>
> Subject: [FlyRotary] combined starter alternator
> To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
> Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2008, 3:28 PM
> Directed to the electronic wiz types.
>
> This is not a development issue but an educational issue as
> I would like to understand the issues associated with
> developing a starter alternator.
>
> Personally I believe a combined starter, alternator,
> flywheel, damper, timing wheel and pick up would be a great
> advantage (we live to dream).
> Some systems use the combined starter alternator attached
> to the gear box shaft just, between the motor and the
> gearbox fluid damper.  
>
> I believe from talking to Bill Jepson that getting
> sufficient power from the current winding used is
> problematic but that there had been major improvements in
> this field. Also reading a little on the Internet ( if I
> understand it correctly) an alternator is AC ( alternating
> current) and a generator is DC. As Batteries are DC and
> starters are DC, we would need to use a DC generator
> winding in the starter generator (someone tell if I'm
> wrong here).
>
> Of course nothing is as simple as this, so I'm keen to
> understand the issues associated - from anyone out there in
> the electronics world!?
> George (down under).