Joe Cygan

Eskiby, There are a lot of Certified engines out there today and there very easy to find.Now,if your talking about inexpensive one's,then your right.If you want the best engine out there today (reliable),buy from BPA,Monty is a great guy and you will never regret it.His link is: http://www.bpaengines.com/

In my opinion and from my experiences there is a very high level of theft in the aviation community.You will probably hear more about radio and avionics theft than actual aircraft being stolen.I remember reading an article about someone using a chain saw to rip open a canard aircraft to steal its radios and avionics here in Southern California .The best defense in my opinion is a hangar and sturdy lock.Of course, they do make a bunch of anti-theft devises like throttle locks and prop locks.I remember working on a Gulfstream II from Mexico.Later on in the inspection they found out that it was actually stolen.Strange thing,that plane just sat on our ramp for a couple months until it left without a word one night.

Just read this story concerning a stolen velocity.Full details are at this link,second story down for December,11. http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?Full=1

John, I feel your frustration about Aircraft Spruce and I think there are a lot of people that have has similar experiences.I'm sharing these stories with you not because I'm trying to create a movement to sway people away from ASS. I'm sharing these stories with you in the hopes they will read this and understand that there pissing off a lot of people.I have been buying stuff from there for the last seven-teen years and I can honestly tell you it has not always been like this in my opinion.In fact, the young bunch of guy's that work at the front desk in Corona are pretty cool people.Unfortunately,I think they need better management and better customer service.So,as much as I like to b**** about f#%cked up orders,I'm hopeful that one day things will get better.They better,I only live three miles from them,see!

Okay,here is part "B" of my buddies story, trying to get stuff from a particular aircraft supply company in Southern California.If you did not read the first part, it is three posts above this one. >>>>>>> Dear Y'all, Well, Rudi was right. If there's a way to screw it up, XXX will find it. It has been TWO WEEKS now since I ordered my tubing kit, ALL OF WHICH, by the way, was IN STOCK according to their web site the night I ordered it. Called back the next day, the lady said to have the shipping company come pick it up that afternoon. Thought we had it licked. So, TWO WEEKS later it still hasn't shipped. Hmm. Called up a week ago to find out why. Spent a combined total of 35 minutes on hold that day being passed from will-call to shipping to customer service (misnomer??) and back. Finally talked with a guy who seemed to know his ass from his elbow, and told me the reason it hadn't shipped is because some of the tubing was (gasp) backordered. What?? Not according to your website. Oh, and nice of y'all to call and let me know that. And of course, they do not eat the shipping on backorders to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico. It was decided (supposedly) that they will in this case. (It's not THAT much tubing that's backordered.) So today I call up to find out why in the dear sweet name of all things good and holy my stuff hasn't shipped yet....(50 minutes holding today) It's because something ELSE has since become backordered. I let the guy know that in the amount of time they had me on hold today, they could have gone to the warehouse, picked the stuff, AND had it on the truck. SO, now he's gonna look into it and call me. (Sure, just like last time.) The thing that really pisses me off? Shipping, cust svc and willcall can't seem to get anything straight. I've been to XXX in Corona. It's not THAT big of a place. Why is one hand not talking to the other?? For small orders, I have had GREAT luck with XXX,as has the company I fly for. Never seen a shipping delay with them. THIS is friggin' rediculous. Moral of story?? For anybody else getting ready to order their tubing, I have the phone numbers for Wicks and Dillsburg. Be more than happy to email 'em to ya. Thanks for letting me rant!! :0) Larry

Marbleturtle, Save your dime,I've already talked to them a few months ago about this subject.They are very concerned about the nose down attitude a canard would exhibit during a BRS deployment.They are not interested in researching this at the moment.

Jim,I read John Slade's "Canard Aviator's Mail list Censorship - is this what members want?"and I must say that the magneto analogy was not a good one to use in your case,sorry.You are my type of animal when it comes to engines.The only thing I can say about being censored is to walk away as fast as you can,you don't need that sh*t.(what a bunch of assholes) Like I said,I do not know you and my response was based on what I was reading.My primary angle was to challenge you and to open some eye's.Obviously you have traveled down this path before and I respect that.I meant no malice towards you. Let's move on!

You know Jim,I don't know you and you probably don't know me.Heck,I don't know most people on this list.You seem like a very intelligent guy with an outstanding awareness of aviation.So,when I give you my opinion please don't think that I'm trying to sh*t on you.In my opinion,you are correct about a lot of the stuff you mentioned in your last post.But,I have to tell you, that your type of put the stake in the new idea philosophy is probably why we still have magnetos on certified aircraft engines.I'm tired of the lets do it this way,because they did it that way yesterday attitude.You can develop anything no matter how ridiculous in nature or practical.I think we should give encouragement to people who want to step on grounds that never have been walked on before.I firmly believe that failure is one step closer to sucsess.

So,is this the new subject at hand?I'm confused!

Rui, The only experience I've had when I was able to use my A&P, was working with high-bred composites doing NDT on flight controls for corporate aircraft.I was involved with composites when I was in my late teens and was sent for a few weeks to a guy name David Ronenburg to learn composite lay-up and entry level mold design.He was a great guy and use to love his stories when he was a stuntman and professional skier.Wow,I can't believe that has been more than fifteen years ago.However my composite career pretty much ended there and I pursued tube and fabric stuff on the experimental level.I have recently involved myself in the last couple years w/composites and I'm re-learning it all over again.Actually,I've put my Cozy project on hold, while I play catch up on my Pitts Model 12 project.I do not work and I stay home all day and build stuff,can you believe that!Right!

Rui, Well,the only degree I have say's"high school" on it and a couple of years of junior college when I was getting my A&P.So,do they have engineer police looking around for diploma violators in Canada? Dust, I guess this is one of those do it for Johnny things,get it,get it?

Rui, I'm glad this Cozy list has a good sense of humor.At the same time it's really cool to see someone like you trying to figure out how to do something that would not be normally done.I'm certainly no expert or engineer but,if you need help,let me know. Joe Cygan

Gee Jim,why don't you ruin all the fun.So far,we have a turbine powered,pressurized,retractable gear,de-ice booted CozyMKIV.What else can we do to it,pin stripe it!

...oops!I meant to spell "Well",not"We'll".I hope there's no spelling police around here.

Rui,(This is my opinion only) We'll,good question!Most people I know that build planes are afraid to think outside the box.In itself,this is a good thing.Because,failure can generate death and that's not a good thing. First of all,you really don't need all that crap on your plane.Most people with some type of common sense, do a good job staying out of known icing conditions.If the weather sucks,stay on the ground,problem solved. Joe Cygan CozyMKIV #1022

Rui,(This is all my opinion only!) A de-ice set up would be possible for a canard aircraft.Your typical light aircraft de-ice set up uses a pneumatic system,which utilizes deicer boot construction with an engine-driven positive displacement type air pump(vacuum pump) and of course all the solenoids,distributor valves,dump valves and on...and on....and on...and on.Or,you could put together a poor man's type that is built with existing boots,tubing,a couple of valves, and a divers pony bottle.Pretty unbelievable,huh?

Rui, That sure would be an ambitious project.Besides a source of compressed air,pressure regulator,outflow valve,pressure relief valves,negative relief valves,dump valves,control valves,heat/air source,pressure bulk heads,door seals, and a fuselage which could withstand at least 8 psi of pressure.Who wants to go first? Joe Cygan CozyMKIV #1022

Very Good!!! Yes!Yes!Yes!

I agree with you John 100%.I just thought it was'nt that hard to figure out what store I was talking about.I'll leave more clues next time.

.....Remember,when you compare fuel burn to turbine VS reciprocating engines they all have different cycles to operate and believe me,I'm not an expert either.To understand the high fuel consumption on turbines you have to think of the "Brayton cycle".It basically describes the events that take place in a turbine engine as the fuel releases it's energy.The same events happen in four stroke reciprocating engines,intake,compression,combustion,and exhaust.The big difference here is that the turbine cycle happens continuously,thus more fuel. Agreed,four-teen gallon per hour is not*too* extravagant FOR A SINGLE ENGINE!The reality with these small turbines is that they sip fuel all the time,taxi or cruise.You will find out that GPH rate will always remain high through the functioning operating ranges.So,you always think about it that way and you will always be fine when flight planning.If you are trying to figure out what a particular fuel burn for a certain altitude at a given airspeed is we'll,good luck.You have to factor in a lot of information.First of all you need an airplane for the study and a engine(that's the hard part).Than you have take in consideration pressure energy and ambient air,weight,wind ect.So,when you find out,let me know.Which brings me back to the fact that any small twin turbines will burn at least 24 to 28 gph and that's a lot of fuel/weight to carry on a small homebuilt.Keep it simple ,use one engine.

Gee Ekisbey,You got me all excited with those fuel burn numbers.I called the company myself and talked to Chuck the owner.At best,you might see four to seven gallons burned per hour during idle/taxi.The hard numbers per Chuck are about eleven to thirteen gallons per hour at cruise per single engine.The turbine engine itself is constructed from apu or gpu parts which is pretty typical for these little turbine engines.They designed there own fuel control for it. I myself have converted a Sunstrand APU engine on a past project and found a Fuel burn of 14.5.with a reduction of my own design. Rui, Their statement is true,"affordable jet engine".Most USED certified turbine power plants are well over one hundred thousand dollars.So,the twenty-seven thousand dollar price tag for a put together turbine engine is very good,and remember at least another ten grand for a good prop.

John, I guess I have to get out there more.I'm telling you,I think I would rather pay more for a product if the service and delivery times are as promised than dealing with the anguish of half hearted businesses.That last link you gave out http://www.recreationalmobility.com ,I'll definitely keep that one. I have to share this little story another pilot friend of mind posted in another aviation list about the continuing problems he has with a aircraft supply company in Southern California.To be fair I will be XX'ing out the name of the company and my friend.Here it goes.... Last night, I heard it all. I went to order a Skybolt tubing kit from XXX. Before I did, I wanted to check freight rates to ship it here to Alaska. I checked with a few local companies to see if they had L.A. offices. One did, so I decided to ship with them. Of course, they needed the size and weight of the box. I called XXX, and asked this question to a guy there. What was the answer??? OH, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. NO MOTOR FREIGHT TO ALASKA. THEY DON'T HAVE ROADS. IT'LL HAVE TO GO UPS. Hmm....I Seem to recall driving it, a couple times now. Even flown a few airplanes up here. Followed this long winding ribbon, with cars and stuff on it.... Looked like a road to me. SO, what did I do? I just placed the order late last night over the Internet. What were my two shipping options? UPS blue, or UPS red. Box was gonna weigh Approximately 70 lbs. (yeah, right) This morning I called to make sure everything was OK with the order, and that they had figured out it was to go by truck, not UPS. I talked with a lady named XXX, she really seemd to know her stuff, and got it all squared away with the shipping company. I guess its all just who you talk to at XXX. The one guy was obviously an idiot. Can't wait to see if they screwed up the order... :0) Oh, If anybody is wondering what it costs to ship a 24 foot 360 lb box from XXX, CA to Fairbanks, Alaska; it's a very reasonable $208.99. It should be here by Dec 10. What would UPS have charged?? The last little box-o-stuff I ordered from XXX weighed about 10 lbs, and was about 1 foot square by six inches high (just tubing and sheet steel for walking beam and pitch reverser) and it cost SIXTY BUCKS in shipping!!! Happy Thanksgiving!! XXX XXX We'll,I guess some of us are more harder to please than others,Happy Thanksgiving! Joe Cygan Cozy MKIV #1022

Group, You would not want to put two of those engines on a Cozy.You would be burning around a total of 25 to 30 gallons of fuel an hour.Now you are defeating the whole purpose.You would not need two engines for redundancy because if done correctly one turbine is always more reliable than one horizontally apposed certified engine.The web site did not give any pricing information,at least that I saw.The price is probably in the low to high thirties for the engine alone.I could be wrong. Joe Cygan Cozy MKIV #1022

Group, I wanted to let everyone know of a great little place that sells all kinds of aviation products from flight instruments to aircraft tools.I was real surprised to find a set of aircraft cylinder base wrenches(4) for under sixty-bucks.Their web link is: www.chiefaircraft.com A new aircraft supply company is always a new breath of fresh air in my opinion! Give them a try,I am. Joe Cygan Cozy MKIV #1022

Is anyone out there thinking about putting a turboprop on a CozyMKIV.If so,would like to swap idea's. Joe Cygan www.cyganfamily.com CozyMKIV #1022