Thread: Orphaned Engine
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Old July 22nd 08, 04:22 AM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
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Default Orphaned Engine

On Jul 21, 6:55*pm, cavelamb himself wrote:

Not at 260 pounds.
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Seems a tad high but it really doesn't matter; beggers can't be
choosers. It is available, dirt cheap and reliable. Determine it's
CG and it is reduced to a box on the drawing, waiting to be made
practical by the designer.

The Wright 'Flyer' grossed about 750lbs with Orville onboard. Wing
span of 40 feet. Wing area over 500 square feet. Yet it flew
moderately well (in 1905) with only 12 horsepower. Since those days
we have enjoyed quantum leaps in materials and aeronautical knowledge
-- we've more than enough information to build a reliable airplane
from materials commonly available in the average town. Drop the
bureaucrats out of the equation, solve the logistical problems of
where to build and to fly, and you own the sky, de facto if not de
juri.

Here in the western United States on any winter weekend you can see
hundreds of flying machines doing their thing over the myriad of dry
lakes. Many of these are substantial machines with real aircraft
engines but most are not. Yet they all fly and incidents are low.