Innovative Thinking?

[rv6ejguy]

http://www.barnstormers.com/eFLYER/2...600eFLYER.html

[Yukon]

Is this serious? How can that aircraft be in CG with 2 V-8's up front?

[DeltaRomeo]

My head hurts just looking at that.....so many unknowns.
I'm just as interested as anyone to see if it will fly.
Wow.

[jcoloccia]

I'd love some insight on the engineering that went into that thing. It may be as simple as "put a big enough engine on a brick and it'll fly". I'm guessing he'll get a 40 hour fly off.

[grantcarruthers]

The prop looks like something out of a horror movie!!!

Holy cow I'd love to hear that thing make a low pass wide open.

[jsherblon]

Do you need a multi-engine rating to fly it?

[rv969wf]

I saw this on Barnstormers the other day and one comment was stated:

Performance: The RP-4 is designed to be a high performance aircraft.

Maybe that is a misprint, lol...... should have read: "is designed to be a ????????

If this thing actually flys, it will be amazing. Wonder what the stall speed is???? 180mph+++

The Piranha that my friend has reminds me of this RP-4 a little but because of the very thin wing with the pilot sitting near the tail and his stall speed is around the 125mph range.

This thing looks wild is all I can say. I guess anything will fly if you put a big enough engine in it...

[John Clark]

Originally Posted by jsherblon

Do you need a multi-engine rating to fly it?

Yes, but you can go for the "Centerline Thrust" option.

Just looking at the photos, I can't help but think that they will be in the market for a 500 pound pilot to meet CG.

John Clark
RV8 N18U "Sunshine"
KSBA

[rv6ejguy]

As a designer and fabricator, I admire the thought and work that has gone into this aircraft. We think we have it so hard building a pre-punched, pre-designed kit!

I'll go out on a limb and say the surface conduction cooling system will be a total failure with maybe 2000hp on tap. The C of G would seem to be impossible here but I don't think they got this far without considering that. The DO335 had one engine in front and one amidships with a drive shaft- seemed like a better idea.

I think the Macchi MC72 seaplane that still holds that world speed record used two V12s in tandem and surface conduction cooling (with a lot more area and copper cladding) It worked to the tune of 440mph on floats so maybe we shouldn't be so skeptical. http://www.oldbeacon.com/gallery/gallery6/gal6-1.htm
The C of G would seem somewhat forward on this one too but it obviously worked.

Totally impressive in 1934!

[bsacks05]

Speaking of innovation, how 'bout the Turbine Toucan. http://www.turbinetoucan.com/
The airframe reminds me of one of my all time favorite RC planes - The Ultimate Bipe.