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Conferences Building the Biplanes Building the Hatz CB-1 Topic #148
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Nick Boughen
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98 posts, Rate this user		 Jan-22-03, 04:32 PM (CST)
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"Rotec Radial engine"
 
   The Rotec is a 110HP radial. I was considering this underpowered for my Hatz until I had this comment from the manufacturers

"consider our performance. Via our 3:2 planetary gear box our engine can swing a 76"x 60" pitch prop at 2,450rpm! It can climb a Kitfox at over 2000ft/min. That's better than direct drive flats of far greater capacity. So you'll find that the Hats will handle our engine well as It's a biplane with relatively high parasitic drag. This is a situation that our engine revels in."

Does anyone have any comment on this? Does it appear that this engine might do the job?

Thanks

Nick Boughen


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mtaylor
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231 posts, Rate this user		 Jan-22-03, 07:21 PM (CST)
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1. "RE: Rotec Radial engine"
In response to message #0
 
   If the Hatz is built light, this engine would look and perform good. The longer prop would warrant a longer gear. That, in turn, would also give you a better three point stance in the landing flair than with a plans built gear. You'd be forging new territory with the motor mount, also. If I weren't so far along and wanting to fly sooner than later, I'd seriously consider the Rotec. Another sticking point, though, is $15,000 for an engine with (maybe) a 1,000 hr. TBO. And, the last I heard, there is no U.S. overhaul facility set up yet. The designer is still working on the logistics of field repair ability here in the U.S. The only distributor I know of in the U.S. is in Indianapolis. He's the one who mounted it on his Kitfox.

Has anyone seen or heard anything from the guy who had designed a block that he bolted VW cylinders to that made a nifty little radial? Like so many ideas that pop up in the experimental category, this too seems to have melted away.

This little Aussie radial looks real good to me. If the guy can just set up a workable tech support and if he can get some good time logged on several type aircraft, I think he'll sell a lot of engines. I think the Flybaby would look really cool with this engine.

Mark T #493


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Ser248
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103 posts, Rate this user		 Jan-23-03, 06:01 AM (CST)
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2. "RE: Rotec Radial engine"
In response to message #0
 
   Jim Wright and I visited the representative a few weeks ago; he is about an hour from us. The installation on the Kit Fox is really nice. He chose that aircraft for specific reasons and you need to have him give you all of the details. We spoke with him for quite a while during our visit and he gave us alot of background information. He is a one man show in the U.S., that is why his support system seems inadaquate. As he sells more product, he plans on providing more services. He went over the individual pieces that made up the engine and a vast majority were based on readily available automotive parts in Australia... which means they would also be available here.( mostly current VW stuff) He is willing to talk to any builder who is interested in putting one on their project but he can be difficult to catch at times... just keep trying. He has a 2300 ft. grass strip next to his shop if you would like to drop in on him.
It sounds, smells and leaks like a radial which is quite cool if that is what you want. He showed us a collector ring for the exhaust he was working on. Current design has individual exhaust stacks.
Jeff


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Hatz777
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207 posts, Rate this user		 Jan-24-03, 11:12 AM (CST)
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3. "RE: Rotec Radial engine"
In response to message #0
 
   I'm really entised (sp?) by the prospect of a lightweight Hatz powered by the Rotec. The TBO, and product support are soft spots. Even if 1000 hours is all I got out of it, that would be $15/hour throw away. After 1000 hours on the airframe, I think the airplane would need a bunch of rebuild/reoutfit/retirement. I'm not building an investment, I'm building an experience. Beat's 15 weeklong trips to Disneyworld.

If there is a reliability problem, then all bets are off. I'm carrying my family in this thing, and they are entitled to one each takeoff and landing, per flight, at the airport.

It kinda deviates further from the WACO 10 baseline, but...

Caasi
#777


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mtaylor
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231 posts, Rate this user		 Jan-24-03, 08:29 PM (CST)
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4. "RE: Rotec Radial engine"
In response to message #3
 
   I attended the Rotec forum at OSH and listened to the Australian guy who is developing it and the Indy guy who's importing them talk. The engine block and internals are very similar to the P&W radials. The fella who designed the engine says he used the P&W's as a model because of their durability. He expects no problems with reliability. Like I said, let's keep an eye on the track record this thing develops. I've seen so many new ideas just disappear from sight after a while. Hope this one sticks around and builds a following.

Mark T.


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