marbleturtle

I was curious to know who on this forum plans on being at Sun-N-Fun this year... dates and flying or driving? I am thinking about the first 2 days... unfortunately driving. (unless some kind soul wants to stop by in North GA... I'll be happy to shoo the cows off the runway! ) So who else is going?

STOP IT DUST OR YOUR GONNA DIEEEEEEE!!!!! WAAAAAAAHHHH... Feel anything? No? Nothing?... Okay, how's this. If you don't stop your gonna need that oxegen lonnnnnng before 25,000 feet! Its a practical thing to quit. Now my boss on the other hand... he was out in the cold wind and rain the other day on his usual 30 min smoking break. But I try to encourage his habit.

For me it was the first time I heard about "shock cooling" a certified aircraft engine while beginning flight training. Not long after that, I saw an ad in an aircraft magazine by a certified aircraft engine manufacturer claiming that their quality of engineering now matches that of the automobile industry. As far as the rotary goes, I don't buy the arguments that because of it's low part count and rotation instead of reciprication makes it more reliable than other engines. For an eye opener, look at the number of used RX7's with under 100k miles for sale that have new engines installed because the old one blew. (?) Its not the part count that makes the engine reliable, its the implementation. There are plenty of Honda and Nissan sports car engines that have lived hard lives but have yet to give up the ghost. That said, I do believe that the rotary can be MADE very reliable. Its design also has very attractive "fail-safe" charactoristics that I like that standard cylinder based engines do not have. The lower price of purchase (vs a low time Lyco or Franklin) and maintenance expense are just a bonus.

aaaaaaahem! I do believe we are overdue for another scheduled update! Curious minds want to know!!!

I've got the girrrrrrlllsss on the list. How could I have forgotten about Greg? That reminds me... need to email him. I also forgot about this forum... This brings me to a touchy subject that should probably be in a different thread... is everyone jumping ship to the Homebuilders forum?

Since I can't build just yet, I'm taking the time to set up my own Cozy web site. I'm getting the framework out of the way so when I start building it will be easy to record what I do as I go along. http://www.maddyhome.com/canardpages/pages/marbleturtle/index.html Anyway, I'm working on links that I think are important or interesting for Cozy builders: John Slade's site (unless you object John!) Al Wick's, Wayne Hick's sites (I just realized the other day that... NO, they are not the same person. ) Maddy's site (of course) Phil Johnson's site Cozy Girrrrrllls Mick Perry (Long Duck!) Wicks and AS&S Of course the official and unofficial cozy sites. Any other intensely interesting sites out there I didn't mention?

<--- trying not to hold breath <--- aahhhh... this is like waiting for someone to give birth!!! But I've got my stogie ready...

aahhh... need for update satisfied. Okay... awaiting next daily update!

I went to see a completed Cozy IV on the south side of Atlanta. I keep forgetting the guy's name... its the person who finished his plane in about 18 months, one of the first Cozy IV's build. Anyway, he was cheerful and pleasant on that cool clear Saturday morning. He offered to let me try his Cozy on for size. Now I was trying to be gracious and keep my shoes off the seat (which I now know can only be done if you take your shoes off) and slip my legs into the leg well. I sorta had a gymnist routine working... until I slipped. Now have you ever watched a gymnist competition? When a boy/girl goes running up a ramp and hits the pummel horse perfectly, it looks almost effortless. But if they slip or are off just a little, flailing body parts go cartwheeling through the air landing on the judges table wiping out drinks, ballots, glasses, and the occaisional bad hairpiece in violent directions turning the normally sober collection of esteemed internation judges into a pile of mommy wailing toddlers. Well, my fall was worse... at least more embarrassing. (I think I may have bent his fuel mixture lever. ) I apologized profusely. Suddenly the conversation changed from how beautiful the weather was to Cozy crashes and liability and the effects of epoxy fumes on the brain... and oh by the way, you really should look at building an RV4. (!@#$!@#%!!!) I tried to be polite and listen to what he had to say. I was a little uncomfortable when the topic then changed to how the information you get about Cozy's on the internet is ALL wrong and everyone or at least someone was going to die. I was wondering how to get out of THAT conversation, when a waterfall of fuel started spilling out of his NACA duct. The Sun had moved overhead during our "conversation" (ie: stern lecture) warming up the rear of the plane. He raced to pop the fuel caps and I made a polite escape. A few weeks after that I met up with Greg Richter who I later found out owns Blue Mountain Avionics. BMA manufactures the most sought after EFIS systems for experimental aircraft. His operation is a hoot and a holler away from my stomping grounds. He has always been very gracious and very enthusiastic about his Cozy. I had a chance to meet up with him just as his Rotary engine was getting pulled. I told him about the other planes I was considering and he told me what he thought of them. Several of the planes we discussed were right there in the Copper Hill hangar getting BMA EFIS Ones installed. That brings us to today. After 1 trip to OSHKOSH (sorry John, I meant EAA airventure!), and several Cozy visits... no rides yet! Now I talked to Greg again a few weeks ago and he said he should have his new JET engine installation finished and final wiring completed by... uh oh, today. Yep... you guessed it. I think my first ride in a Cozy is going to be a JET Cozy! I asked him if he thought this would warp my sense of what to expect from a Cozy. He said yep... and added something to the effect of "who cares... lets go haul @ss!!!" So with more than a little trepidation, I'll be contacting him again soon. I may be in for the ride of my life. On those moments I'm not clutching a paper bag up to my mouth, I'll try to remember to take a few pictures to share with the group.

Is anyone else going through John's daily status report withdrawel?

As all of the long-timers here know... this is something I researched for about 3 months. Velocities gain about 15 mph with retracts, even though they don't seal up the wheel well openings. (This creates quite a bit of drag). The yellow Long EZ with the Infinity retracts gained almost 20 mph without changing his prop. Most high performance production aircraft with similar wing/spar characteristics (+10g, -6g) have wing/spar mounted retracts. Space normally occupied by the fixed gear can be used for gravity feed sump tank with single engine fuel line. Spacer blocks in strakes can be removed for added fuel. (See Phil's site for more details about that.) Less likely to flip or nose dive in emergency off field landing. Wider track means better cross wind landing or normal ground control. But then there is the price... $5600 does seem a little pricey for the parts you get. I've also heard grumblings about long waits and retroactive price increases before delivery. But JD says his supply problem has been fixed. I'm still leaning toward using the infinity retracts... but just barely.

I'm glad Dust didn't mention the names of anyone who has had plans for 4 months but still can't get started (don't get me started about why!!! ). But I can play with creating my own web site while at work! Shshsh... don't tell anyone. http://www.maddyhome.com/canardpages/pages/marbleturtle/index.html

Okay... maybe it would be easier to discuss peace if you aren't beating your Mr. Smiley in the process. Just a thought.

Parts Count? Add two static fuel tubes, one static T return tube. Subtract mechanical 3 way 6 port selector valve. Check valves? I thought you were already using those so I threw them in the mix. I don't really see the need for them yet. I don't like the idea that they could stick closed. One Wide Open tube between both sides for air pressure, one for fuel... laws of physics say it must. Well... this is not the system you have. At this point I'm not saying it will work. I'm looking for valid reasons why it will NOT work. I am looking at this design because I plan on running a fuel injected engine and two standard tanks with a center sump tank. If I can toss out the 3 position 6 port selector switch running 6 fuel lines into the front cabin (or return fuel selector, or check valves to the sump, etc.) and simplify the system in the process, then I think its a design worth persuing.

Since we are all broaching the subject with wreckless abandon... There are some problems a hug just can't cure. Give WAR a chance!

Okay how's this... Run fuel equalizing line between the lowest points of the tanks. Add pressure equalizing line between highest points of the tanks. Add check valves from each tank to sump. One line for fuel to the injector rail, one feed back to a T fitting and where the fuel ends up doesn't matter because both tanks self level. Will that work?

Why not run a thin open line under the fuselage, between the two tanks that balances the two systems like a water level? It would need to be thin so you don't dump all your fuel from one tank to the other in a long turn... Just a thought.

Actually, I wasn't picking on Mr. Z this time. I see the same thing here and other places as well. Too many people are quick to tell new builders with questions to just go look up the answer in the archives. Well I'm not sorry if their mother didn't get the bunny they wanted as a child... that's no excuse to be rude. Material and Engine technology is changing yearly. Electronic Technology is changing even faster. Every quarter we get a newsletter with some recommended changes. I see no problem with giving a new builder an answer to a question even if it has been answered 100 times already in the archives. The 101 answer may be different. Oh... and I think the motorcycle your talking about JC is the Honda RC51. Fast bike but power modulation too abrubt to work through a corner smoothly. Okay, now I've said too much.

$30k? Over here they're only $14k! Maybe its because when you ride around here, AL, and TN in a Harley, people cheer and give you the thumbs up... when you ride a rice burner, people boo and throw rocks! I suppose the demand is less here than in Southern CA.

Alcohol interferes with my Lithium. ... oh, and I have a Yamaha R1 but its for my anti-social moments. I ride with no-one.

One other thing Joe... In my more impetuous years, when I would get bothered by others, my Father would tell me the Crab story. Do you know why you can leave a big pile of crabs in an open tub without worrying about any of them getting out? If you sit and watch them for a while, its easy to discover why. The fish market will pile them all up in a big metal tub so deep that they are just inches from the rim. Slowly, one or two will start to make a move. They will start to climb up the side, or maybe climb up on top of others and reach for the highest point. But something strange happens. If a crab starts to get close to the top, the other crabs will grab him and drag him back down. Maybe one of the crabs who pulled back the first one will make his move. When he does, the other crabs in turn will pull him back down. Instead of working together to achieve a simple goal, it seems that crabs think that the only way to get ahead is by pulling others down. Now I like to think of this place as a school of whales. We work together to achieve a common goal. Each of us by ourselves can continue on the journey alone, but we enjoy each other's company and work better together. Just because we run across a few ugly crabs along the way, doesn't mean the ocean is a miserable place. My $0.02

I'm planning on making mine a few inches wider, so I was thinkin Fat-Z, Comfee-Z, or King Kozy which would be stealing someone else's idea. Heck, I even thought about Bree-Zee... but that was when I thought an open cockpit might be interesting. I know, I have issues.

Without the baffles he has air spilling out of the NACA duct... I couldn't see any pictures of the rear of his plane. Does he have a large enough exit area? Its the old suck air out the back to get more air in, or ram air in the front and force it through the system scenario. Still looks like a good idea regardless!

Don't worry about it Joe! It seems that several people believe all questions on the forum could be answered by "just search through the archives!" Heck, we might as well just pack it up and close the forum. Its practically useless! What they seem to forget is information changes and the archives are old news. So ask away my Hippy Friend and just skip on by the naysayers...

I have no problem with that!