VW Redrive Mounted on the Case's Generator Pad?

On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 01:05:29 GMT, John Ousterhout
wrote:

I believe that Gene Smith of Valley Engineering built it. He uses it as
a demo for his VW engine conversions with the Valley Engineering Redrive.

That's what Dick Starks switched his Taube to, after the crash with the A-75.

http://www.culverprops.com/engines.htm

He also had an article in KITPLANES about it, a few years back.

Ron Wanttaja

"Ron Wanttaja" wrote

That's what Dick Starks switched his Taube to, after the crash with the
A-75.

What was the cause of the crash with the A-75? Engine failure, if so, what?

T(h)anks again!
--
Jim in NC

On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 19:14:52 -0500, "Morgans" wrote:


"Ron Wanttaja" wrote

That's what Dick Starks switched his Taube to, after the crash with the
A-75.

What was the cause of the crash with the A-75? Engine failure, if so, what?

If I dismember correctly, the fundamental problem was that the A-75 just didn't
have enough oooompppph for the draggy Taube. Can't remember if the Continental
just overheated or if someone mushed it into the corn.

In either case, he swapped it for a VW with the Valley Engineering PSRU and is
now turning a 96 inch diameter prop with 60 inches of pitch. He claims it
provides 70% more thrust than the old engine. Hmmm, lengthen the gear legs on
the Fly Baby.... :-)

Ron Wanttaja

"Ron Wanttaja" wrote

If I dismember correctly, the fundamental problem was that the A-75 just
didn't
have enough oooompppph for the draggy Taube. Can't remember if the
Continental
just overheated or if someone mushed it into the corn.

In either case, he swapped it for a VW with the Valley Engineering PSRU
and is
now turning a 96 inch diameter prop with 60 inches of pitch. He claims it
provides 70% more thrust than the old engine. Hmmm, lengthen the gear
legs on
the Fly Baby.... :-)

Wow! It is hard for me to get my brain wrapped around the fact that a VW
could be stronger than an A-75, even with a redrive!

I always heard that a VW was only good for around 40 horsies for extended
periods of time. Can't a 75 in good condition beat that? It would make
more sense to add a redrive to the 75, than go down to the VW.

Has it ever become common practice to put redrives on pancake engines?
(other than the 470 geared from the factory, and it's ilk) I don't ever
recall seeing one with a redrive, or hearing about one.

What is the displacement of the A-75, anyway? If you don't know off the top
of your head, just say so, and I'll go a-googlin'! g
--
Jim in NC

On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 23:16:20 -0500, "Morgans" wrote:

"Ron Wanttaja" wrote

In either case, he swapped it for a VW with the Valley Engineering PSRU
and is
now turning a 96 inch diameter prop with 60 inches of pitch. He claims it
provides 70% more thrust than the old engine. Hmmm, lengthen the gear
legs on
the Fly Baby.... :-)

Wow! It is hard for me to get my brain wrapped around the fact that a VW
could be stronger than an A-75, even with a redrive!

OX-5 engine: 90 HP
O-200 engine: 100 HP

Pull the OX-5 out of a Jenny, install an O-200, and try flying.

Back in the '60s, Boeing decided to build a replica of their first aircraft, the
B&W (Boeing and Westervelt) for the 50th anniversary of the company. The
original was a great big biplane and had a 125hp Hall-Scott A-5 engine with a
long, wide-chord prop.

http://www.centennialofflight.gov/es...y/Aero17G2.htm

The replica was ALSO a great big biplane. They used a geared GO-435 engine with
twice the horsepower and a leetle-bitty propeller.

http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Biplanes/BoeingB-W.htm

I've heard that the replica, even with twice the horsepower, can barely get out
of its own way. Big draggy airplanes want big, slow-turning props, and
apparently half the HP is OK if it's being pushed into a big prop.


Ron Wanttaja

On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 00:15:29 -0800, Ron Wanttaja
wrote:

I've heard that the replica, even with twice the horsepower, can barely get out
of its own way. Big draggy airplanes want big, slow-turning props, and
apparently half the HP is OK if it's being pushed into a big prop.

That's the basic formula all WWI era aircraft used. All the pics of
them show these monster props with very little ground clearance.

Since they didn't fly very fast, it didn't matter that the props were
slow spinners.

Corky Scott