650 HP Rotary Time To Climb record attempt

Don't you come into a forum with facts, you'll break the internet!

 

Paul finally added a video to YouTube

[video]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0LFXE6EBLLs[/video]

 

Slight mistake at the first of the video- the time to climb record for piston aircraft is 91.9 seconds to 3000 meters. Held by Rare Bear.

 

Just looking through my spam folder and found a TTC post from Paul. I think they're still testing things out but he said they made the climb to 10k in 1 min 47 seconds, which puts them about 16 sec off Rare Bears mark, but still pretty respectable.

 

Well Ross I believe you're probably right about the Rare Bear record, though the rotary powered example was gunning for the 10,000 foot record. Which is only another 158 feet or so. That is 1'31" (for Rare Bear). They are saying that they have been certified for the 10,000 foot record at 100 seconds. 1'40" That means they used about 9 seconds to climb that last 158 feet. That puts them damm close to Bear's time to 3000 meters, if they didn't beat it. Still quite an accomplishment considering the shoestring that they spent on the plane by comparison. You or I might have configured things differently but they have an impressive result. The rotary is a tough little engine.
Bill Jepson

 

Agreed. They did a great job on a small budget by keeping it light. No doubt with a couple more psi boost and a cooler day, they could beat the outright record by the required amount.

 

According to the guy who posted the youtube video (and some other hearsay) the prop was inadequate to handle full power of the engine. Think about a proper controllable prop and a proper wing for high angle of attack work (high aspect ratio instead of the shortened already short -4 wing). Either one would have almost certainly given them a time that beat Rare Bear. Shucks, even flying an AOA meter on the current plane might have done it.

Charlie

 

They shortened the wing for a climb record?

 

I believe that they used a Harmon Rocket airframe, which is an RV-4 with mods to handle a 6cyl a/c engine. One of the changes to help wing strength is to build the wing shorter but with the same number of ribs. Doubt that they considered it a benefit; just a byproduct of the available airframe.
I'd suggest asking the youtube guy, or through the linked web site. My info is 3rd hand, at best.

 

Not a fan of the weed wacker noise but that’s one hell of a climb angle.

https://youtu.be/k_gedJrWbT4

Congrats guys
Love to see people doing instead of just talking.