Would you fly this one?

Morgans wrote:

Anyone remember what I am thinking about?

Don't recall that one, but I have seen photos of the
glider with the two (model) jet engines that folded
back into the fuselage behind the pilot.

These were the same type of model jet engines that
are used on the Cri Cri.

"Greg Farris" wrote

The picture about four slides later is not bad either!
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Helicopters/1046.htm
Buzzsaw in the breadbasket - front and rear!

How much efficiency would be sacrificed by putting a wireframe guard
around these things? I don't mean a tight mesh that you couldn't still
get a finger into - but at least something rigid enough to keep you
from slipping in up to your waist! Damn.

Damn, is the least you can say? Double damn!

Ever seen a prop spin off of a model airplane engine? I have.

I was testing the needle setting by holding it pointed straight up, wide
open throttle. If it sags, going lean pointed up like that, then it needs
more adjustment.

For what ever reason, (either it got loosened, or I forgot to tighten it) it
suddenly departed the engine. I was surprised (understatement of the year)
to see it continuing to spin, in the same rotational plane. With no weight
holding it down, the thrust lifted the prop straight up into the air about 5
feet rather quickly; then it arced back over my head. (and two or three
other ducking bystanders) It happened so quickly, I barely had time to duck
and pull the throttle down, to avoid hand grenading the engine.

Now picture one of those props doing the same thing.

Oh, and I also wonder what OSHA would think about that setup, nowadays.
(:-o)

Nah, that's a lie. I don't have to wonder! g
--
Jim in NC

"Peter Duniho" wrote in message
...
"Steve R" wrote in message
...
You mean there's enough money out there to get you on that thing in the
first place??

Absolutely. It looks fun enough, and I'd be willing to take the risk,
given enough hazardous duty pay.

$5 isn't going to do it though. And payment would have to be guaranteed,
even in the event of my demise. Got a family to feed, ya' know.

A million bucks might be enough.

Pete


I'm glad you're able to place such a solid figure on the worth of your life!
I'm not sure I could do that. A million bucks isn't going to mean much to
me if I wind up in the consistancy of thin sliced bologna! ;-)

Good luck,
Steve R.

Perhaps it was this powered sailplane?

http://www.alisport.com/eu/eng/silent_a.htm

JP


"Morgans" kirjoitti
...

"Sylvain" wrote

I have seen propellers for a model airplane that had only one blade,
with
a counter weight... has it ever been made for a full scale aircraft?

Common enough for at least one sailplane manufacturer with self launch, or
sustain capability engine, to use a one blade prop. When shut down, the
engine lines up the prop a certain way, and the prop and engine fold back
into the fuselage, behind the cockpit.

I don't remember that much about it, but I read about it, one time, a
while back.

Anyone remember what I am thinking about?
--
Jim in NC

One such video is available:

http://www.alisport.com/eu/eng/videogallery.htm

choose

Bob Carlton's Silent Club Jet Sailplane aerobatic routine

1 min 52 sec video, 3.71 Mb


JP


"Shiver" kirjoitti
...
Morgans wrote:

Anyone remember what I am thinking about?

Don't recall that one, but I have seen photos of the
glider with the two (model) jet engines that folded
back into the fuselage behind the pilot.

These were the same type of model jet engines that
are used on the Cri Cri.

Just found this video of a self launching single blade-prop sailplane.

The Monk

"Steve R" wrote in message
...
I'm glad you're able to place such a solid figure on the worth of your
life! I'm not sure I could do that. A million bucks isn't going to mean
much to me if I wind up in the consistancy of thin sliced bologna! ;-)

Assuming you're a pilot, you risk your life every time you go flying.
Unless someone is paying you, you are even paying for the privilege of
risking your life. How much will that negative payment mean to you if you
wind killed by your flying?

So you see, it's not really a question of putting a figure on the worth of
one's life, but of balancing the risk and the reward. I wouldn't fly any
contraption if I thought that my death was assured. But many contraptions
are not quite as safe as staying standing on the ground, while still being
enjoyable to operate. As the risk goes up, so too does the payment I'd
require in order to get me to demonstrate that operation.

At some point, obviously no payment is sufficient, but I don't see anything
about this particular aircraft to suggest that the death of the operator is
in any way a likely outcome, assuming one takes the proper precautions.

In this particular case, we have a photograph of a person who is actually
operating the aircraft, and who presumably wasn't killed during that
operation. Likewise, with proper preparation I'd expect to be able to
operate the aircraft in a manner safe enough to warrant taking the risk, in
return for the enjoyment of flying it along with the cash payment.

I'd guess that this particular aircraft is no more dangerous than, say, the
Space Shuttle. And you wouldn't even need to pay me a million bucks to get
me on the Space Shuttle. Obviously, there's more to the analysis than just
how likely the craft is to get you killed.

That said, no one's ponied up the million bucks, so it appears the whole
discussion was moot.

Pete