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Gee, John
You didn't mention the
opinionated assertion by Paul that started this e mail list.
Paul's early opinionated view (meaning he had about Plugs Up (rotating the
engine 90 deg) and how we were all going to fall out of the air. He
desperately tried to come up with one theory after another (all easily
disproved) to substantiate his opinion about why Plug Up would not
work - of course, it does work just fine. Like EWP,
thick GM cores,etc, but, he was successful in dividing the rotary community
single handedly - got to give him credit for that. Paul will
frequently focus on one aspect of a multi aspect situation and ignore the other
aspects that might lead to an alternative conclusion. The biggest thing is
that Paul will seldom let facts data interfere with his
opinion. He will aggressively attack anybody who happens to have the
knowledge or experience to disagree with him - one reason you will find many on
this list who were either kicked off of Paul's list for expressing an
alternative view point or left because they did not care for his
tactics.
He produced some aluminum water pump
castings and apparently did not recognize that early on in his reporting of
the bench testing of their flow rate with a 1 hp electric motor (
which produced plenty of flow) that he had already disproved his assertion
that it took 16 HP and therefore a monster DC 12V motor to drive an electric
water pump. That even after it was pointed out to him that while there was
nothing wrong with his calculations - just his assumption that it took 16 HP to
drive sufficient coolant - he refused to budge from his opinion. To
give Paul some credit he did get the 16 HP at 6000 rpm from a credible source
and while the mechanical water pump might indeed consume 16 HP at 6000 rpm
due to pumping losses - he failed to recognize that did not necessary mean that
it TOOK 16 HP to flow sufficient coolant to keep the rotary
cool.
But, despite people successfully flying with EWP,
the last time I hear anything Paul about the EWP he was still adamant it would
not work despite evidence to the contrary - same with Plugs up and thick Gm
radiator cores, NACA ducts, etc. According to Paul they simply won't work.
But, we just keep flying with them anyhow - because they don't know they won't
work as we won't let them listen to Paul {:>).
Paul does have a wide variety of information posted
on his web site which is well worth reading. He can be an interesting and
entertaining person to be around provided you are not in disagreement with
him.
Ed
Ed Anderson
RV-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 10:21
PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: ACRE - Paul
Lamar
Kelsey,
Before you head over
there, let me give you the other side of this
perspective....
>He is without
doubt a talented engineer and has others who also contribute
regularly.
Personally, I would
remove the word talented and insert "opinionated" and last time I
looked, many of the "others" have given up trying to argue with him.
Look at the track
record:
PL said [many times]
that Electric Water pumps cant work for flying rotary engines- disproved by
Todd and others.
PL said [many times]
you can't cool a rotary with a NACA scoop - disproved by
me
PL makes sells
[expensive] intake castings. My welder said it would have been easier (and
cheaper) to start from scratch
PL says Conversion Concepts
mounts are dangerous, but people are flying them fine.
PL sponsors an engine
mount design that other engineers say is dangerous.
PL has never built and
flown any of his own theories.
>I think that
everyone here should at least evaluate the info presented on ACRE for their
own edification.
True - there are
occasional nuggets of valuable information
there. But treat most of what you read there with a "pinch of salt" especially
if PL is backing it. Don't get me wrong - I have nothing personal against PL
(other than his rude behavior in heckling Ed's excellent presentation at Shady
Bend last year), but I do get worried when he suppresses comments that
disagree with his own beliefs or agenda. He gets so adamant that it's tempting
to think he knows what he's talking about. The evidence would tend to prove
otherwise.
Just my
2c.
John
Slade
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