Revmaster 2180 on a Cassutt IIIM
Hello Falcon83
Is it possible to configure a Cassutt Racer for a VW engine?
History: Over 20 years ago I did the design work needed to convert my Cassutt IIIM Racer into a legal Formula V racer. This required considerably more than bolting on a VW engine. I will not go into details here. I called this concept the "Convertible". My Convertible was not to be a open cockpit racer. The Convertible was a Cassutt based race plane that would convert from a legal Formula one Sportplane/Racer to a legal competitive Formula V Racer with the change of the complete "firewall forward package". There would be a Formula One O-200 engine mount, engine and complete engine installation, prop/spinner and cowling "firewall forward package" and a second complete Formula V Volkswagen engine firewall forward package. This was not intended to be a competitive Formula One ( It would be fast enough to qualify at Reno), it was intended to be slightly more competitive than my "Miss Annapolis". It's real value was to be the most versatile, economical racer possible, racing 2 classes with the fixed cost of maintaining one airplane. I was never to proceed with this concept. After notifying FV of my intentions, FV wing rules changed and my Cassutt was effectively outlawed for safety (political?) reasons. Interestingly, a couple years later Formula One racer Ib Hansen was wanting to build a Volkswagen powered Cassutt to race Formula V and the FV wing rules changed back. Politics? (Ib Hansen had nothing to do with FV politics, Ib had no direct involvement in the rule change. Ib thought my Formula V Cassutt was a reasonable idea when I visited him back in 1991. I was driving home from Reno with a Cassutt wing on the roof of my van and made a last minuit detour to see him.)
I was going to refer you to Ib, then I received an email: "Amanda Younkin Franklin passed away yesterday from injuries from the airshow accident in Brownsville TX." and "Also Ib Hansen died last Sunday testing a new Cassutt that he had built." Friends are dead. My friend Ib Hansen was the Cassutt plans dealer, component and kit manufacturer, and a very experienced and competent Cassutt Formula One pilot. Why is Ib dead? I don't know what happened. I do know Ib is another of my friends who died in a test flight of a race plane. Ib is dead and knowing his experience, skill and his conservative nature, I know that this could happen to me on any flight. I know "The risks are real". I have paid my dues, I have more precautionary and dead stick emergency landing experience than I ever wanted. I had my Cassutt (blown engine) emergency landing during my 1st Formula One race at Reno. (Ib was there.) You should note that none of the dead stick landings I had to make were in any of MY airplanes. While I have the fastest Formula V, I never made the most power, I made the most reliable power. Reliable power is everthing, and it is difficult for a VW conversion to reliably meet the Cassutt power requirements.
Back to your situation. Why do you want to put a Revmaster engine in a Cassutt? Do you have the Revmaster engine? Is your sole interest in this project because a Sonerai is not available and this Cassutt is available cheap? How much do you know about Cassutts? about Sonerais? about VW aircraft engines? about Revmaster engines? What is your pilot experience? Do you know Tom Cassutt designed his racer to be a competitive Goodyear racer (the class is now Formula One) with a C-85 engine making about 100HP@3000RPM on takeoff and 120+ HP at speed? The Sonerai was designed to meet the rules of the new Formula Vee sport plane race class. The rules of Formula Vee came from legendary racer Steve Wittman who was very familiar with Goodyear/Formula one racing. Steve's Formula Vee rules were based on Formula One rules and the HP limitations of the Volkswagen engine. The race class rules were written around the race class engine with minimum wing area requirements that would be appropriate for the engine power. Formula V airplanes are designed to fly on their wings, not their engine. Short span, high wing loading and low (VW=low) power is not the best combination for long term success/life. You do understand that due to its' high span loading the Cassutt does not glide as well as the Sonerai. Also a light Cassutt IIIM stalls 70+ MPH and a Sonerai I stalls about 50 MPH, so at their slowest speeds the Cassutt is going to have at least TWICE the energy of the Sonerai. Your margin of error just got a LOT smaller. A situation (mistake) that will scare the snot out of you in a Sonerai, will kill you in a Cassutt. I am not saying the Cassutt does not have good flight characteristics. It does.
In short, I do not feel a Cassutt is a good choice for a VW powered Sport plane, A Cassutt with a VW could be a serious racer, it would not be a forgiving Sport plane. If you are an experienced pilot with high performance experimental aircraft flight test experience, and If you have knowledge and skill in airframe and engine development...Go for it. (Think first, how many VW powered Cassutt racers have you seen FLYING? ) If you already have the Revmaster engine, put it in an aircraft that was designed for a VW. If your heart is set on having a Cassutt Racer (and you have the skill to fly it) buy it and put a Continental engine in it, or at least install an engine more suited to the Cassutt's HP requirements. A hand prop Corvair could be a better choice than any VW.
Don't blindly believe me, you can't talk to Ib Hansen, Steve Wittman or Tom Cassutt , talk to William Wynne about airframe-engine compatibility. I trust William (like Ib) will give you an honest (but biased on reality) opinion based on real knowledge and experience. Before you talk to William, read the information on his site www.flycorvair.com and send him a copy of this message. If you want to learn about VW aircraft engines/ limitations, read Bob Hoover's posts on the VW engine Yahoo Group.
"You are the mechanic in charge" Bob Hoover
"You are the test pilot in the seat" Brian Dempsey
Falcon83, I am willing to talk to you if you email me your phone number.
Yours, Brian Dempsey Formula V National Champion Monnett Sonerai I pilot "Miss Annapolis", Formula V Wittman V-Witt pilot, Formula One Cassutt racer pilot
Amanda Younkin Franklin passed away yesterday from injuries from the airshow accident in Brownsville TX. www.thekathrynreport.com for details
So sorry to hear that.
Also Ib Hansen died last Sunday testing a new Cassutt that he had built.
Red
http://www.coloradodaily.com/ci_18122555?source=most_viewed#axzz1NhbaEftZ