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Considering a Rotary conversion, need help

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DLrocket89

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2009
Messages
249
Location
Janesville, Wi
Hi everyone,

I'm getting started building a Bearhawk. For those of you who don't know, it's a 4 place STOL / "utility" airplane. I'm intending on making use of the STOL part of that.

The design can use 160HP-260HP...the 260 is actually limited by weight, not thrust. I would like to get to the upper end of that spectrum while keeping the weight resonable. Hence, a rotary has possibilities.

My original plan was to buy a Conti O-470 or a Lyc O-540 near TBO. Figure proabbly $5K for the engine, I'd do the rebuild myself, but still looking at probably $15K in it by the end. For that kind of cash, why not get something that's even better, especially if I can learn a bunch in the process?

So, what's the current "state of the art" for converting rotaries? Most of the posts I've read have been from 2003-ish talking about the "new" Renesis engine, companies that no longer exist, etc. My main research so far has been into Real World Solutions, otherwise that's about it.

A few comments:

1) I'm interested in a turbo or a supercharger for better T/O performance, not necessarily high-altitude performance (though that would be a nice "bonus").
2) I'm fine with fabircating whatever requires a welder (exhaust, engine mount, etc).
3) I could design/machine/build a PSRU, but I doubt I could do better than someone who's been working on it for a few years. Who has the most "proven" design around?
4) I'm fine with building my own setup, but does anyone out there havea completed FWF for it?

Thanks in advance!
 
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