All the rotecs I have seen were just like a real radial engine! leak oil out of the exhaust and smoke like hell on start up. COOL!!

Scott:

No, the Tangos were trailered in. I would have no issue with the distance, but last time I flew the over in the Bonanza. A significant portion of the direct flight was over the Sandhills National Forrest. For over 100 miles across South Carolina there are no roads, houses, or cell towers. If you went down for any reason, even if you were not damaged in any way, you'd still have a LONG walk out and recovery of the aircraft would be quite the enterprise.

Yep I can't blame you there Jon, I don't like flying over broccoli either.

Yeah if it aint leaking oil.... you better add some, coz it is out...

My Hillman imps are like that, they have no oil seal on the crank, they have a 'scroll' like a thread so when the motor runs, the oil gets wound back into the motor, not out into the back of the flywheel....

Which is fine when the motor is running.... not so good when you stop.... drippity drip drip drip....

That's just part of radial engines but the look is way worth it and the other phrase they are also famous for is at the fuel pump it's backwards from the rest of the engines:

Fill her with oil but only check the fuel, probably don't need any!

Oh and I did not mention the sound of them!!!
They are just way too cool.

This guy built one out of Honda 600 cylinders



Several people have made VW cylinder radials...

Impressive! Both of them. The VW is a classic way of re-purposing existing ancient well proven technology.
Impressive machining nonetheless.
Thanks Muz.

It looks like you have some interesting tractor designs, I would like to see those in person, maybe next year

Here is a tractor design from down under

Evidently, it can clear its own strip as it takes off?

I like that, I bet if you towed it fast enough it would fly.

That could be a copyright violation of "The Bulldozer" gyroplane.

6 foot hub bar, pto driven pusher prop, swap the front end loader box with a canard airfoil ( don't need no stinking tail) might fly the runway.

Well.....been a while since I've been on the forum.....
The Rotec radial..........
As with all radials........it must be pulled through at least 10 props before starting to prevent hydraulic lock.
No scavenger pump run before starting and she starts and runs like a top.
It's the latest generation of the R2800 so Rotec has obviously worked out the issues.
In the pusher config.....I can't get the CHT over 250-280. Runs flawlessly .
Love the "marking of their territory". One old timer said to me.... " You don't start a radial.....you wake it up" !

Muz, that tractor gyro would have a strange angle in a hang test...

Cheers
Erik

Thats right cruiser... I think one has to pull the motor over so many times, but isnt it backwards?

So it doesnt fire and tear your head off, and so the oil pump pumps the oil back out and the rest of the oil in the bottom cylinders cant hydraulic, because backwards, the oil goed out the open exhaust valves?

Murray Barker always had a pair of plastic milk jugs hanging on the exhaust outlets of his radial little wing in the hangar...





Don't forget the big ficker's anniversary...