JCPJCP

Many thanks for catching my error before I caused any harm ! Should have researched compatibility before typing... John

Years ago, in some "adhesives industry magazine", read that the "sticky" element in most tapes is based on "pine tree pitch". Have since found that Genuine Turpentine, distilled from pine trees, appears to be the one solvent that dissolves tape residue. But I don't know if it will work on dried out tape, nor if it will attack Plexiglas. Test on a scrap piece of Plexiglas FIRST ! John

Here's one on LI: Ken Miller Brookhaven Airport Hanger 22 best regards John

One of the wheel/brake companies (MATCO ?) had a nice demo showing the need for mechanical advantage at Oshkosh. A seat, two pedals, two master cylinders, two gauges. Left with a 3:1 advantage, the right with 1:1...... It gave an instant education as to which design worked. (The one without mechanical advantage also showed all the abuse it had received by those trying to equalize pressures with a HEAVY foot !) John

Super-eze: The entire tail cone of the fibertechcomposites design is glass, tube frame is only structure between wheels-engine-wing. On a Rutan canard design, these all come together at a single point (the firewall). While a "Prescott Pusher" is prime example of a commercially unsuccessful tube frame / glass skin design. (I'm not trying to discourage you, but rather give guidance based upon past failures.) What would be the greatest contribution to the Rutan Canard community is a (public domain) accurate solid model of a Long-EZ, including all of the updates and corrections from the Canard Pusher's. Model should include fiber plies / orientation and foam. From that model, effort could expand in various directions, by many contributors. 1) Studies into different composites (E-Glass / S-Glass / Kevlar / Carbon) 2) Studies into eliminating the styrofoam (assuming an approach using a mold) 3) Widened (E-Racer / Cozy) versions. 4) Retract landing gear (Drybread / Velocity) 5) Control systems (single sidestick / dual sidestick / centerstick / dualyoke) 6) Blended winglets 7) A better approach to the Strakes (easier to build / leak proof / fuel proof) It has been 30 years since the Long-EZ was designed. Since then, new materials and better design/analysis tools have been developed. It may be possible to reduce weight and the amount of $$$ fabric, by going to higher strength materials. But this can't be done blindly ! (One question I've yet to answer for myself is how many pounds of foam actually are in the aircraft !) Again, just thinking out loud. John

Solid model drawings of tubing space frame are pretty, but a wasted effort. A better use of time would be to build a set of steel molds. Rolled sheet metal could form perfect wing surfaces... The body would require the talents of a good tin knocker ! Something like an E-Racer/Cozy options for a 2 - 3- 4 seat design. The side by side sells, tandem seating has a very limited market. (Mistake Velocity Russia is making with their Intruder project) Sleeker than a Velocity, more like an E-Racer... Perhaps only canopy and seat locations define the differences. Include wheel wells in strakes, to allow assembly with or without retracts. (if fixed wheels are installed, simply cover the wheel wells, than can be converted to retracts at a later date) Strakes part of the wings, allowing disassembled plane to fit in a truck or shipboard container ? Pre-Preg Glass / Kevlar / Carbon could then be mass produced with proper vacuum bagging / Autoclave high pressure / high temperature cure. Glass for low end model, Carbon /Kevlar for the big spenders. Outer layer of carbon for the tub, with an inner liner of Kevlar for crew protection. Inject foam between outer tub and inner liner after molding (for insulation) and crash protection (energy absorption). The years and years needed to build a plans design is what has stalled the growth of the canard fleet. Look at what RV has done with mass produced kits... Need something between a complete kit, and a scratch built design ! Thinking out loud... John

With only 2 power pulses per revolution, will have high torsional vibration. Diesel-Air/Gemini and Wilksch both started out as 2 cylinder 2 cycle, and later progressed to 3 cylinder 2 cycle designs. John

Here's their proof of concept flying: http://gregrichter.com/aircraft.html

Rohacell is made out of a plastic in same family as Kapton / Polyimide. That's the stuff they make flexible printed circuit boards out of. Does not melt with a soldering iron, so forget about hot wiring. It is hard and tough, but not brittle, CNC's very nicely. Survives high pressure - high temperature autoclave cure. But somewhat costly............. JCP

ColinB Here is a Reality Check you should look at: http://members.iquest.net/~aca/index.htm Nice work, which he displayed last year at Oshkosh. But it has taken him Y-E-A-R-S to get this far along. And the Corvette Engine it is based upon may now vanish under the new "Government Motors"........... Then look at www.wingco.com.......... JP

Look here: http://www.maddyhome.com/canardpages/pages/voolivrebrasilia/exindex.html

Chrissi: Your BallValve & CheckValve on the Firewall scheme is going into my build notebook. It's a great solution that solves a very nasty failure mode scenario. (And of course the Germans went one further, putting a servo on the ball valve to fully automate cockpit temperature control !) John

There's been a carbon fiber tub on display last 2 years at Oshkosh. Has been down first row to the left of main gate. But they don't seem interested in selling to builders. JCP

Look at http://www.lmlkorea.com and http://www.wankelsupertec.de to see one alternative to a Mazda based design. Still years away from production, to say the least. Both web sites appear to be carefully crafted to soley attract interest of venture capitalists. Also note that they are trying to sell design to any and every application, with aviation way down on the list ! John

Funny my "Aviator" is of a "Flying Wing" with "Canard". The more I played with the concept, the more I learned I didn't know...... If I ever get my butt in gear, it will now look like an ERacer with a Wankel ! JCP