ROTARY ENGINE

 

Here are some photos of the custom engine installation on my Velocity Elite RG.  It is a 3-rotor rotary engine, built by Mazda for the “Cosmo”; a model that was never exported to the US.  Lot’s of reasons for choosing this option, but primary factors are high power to weight ratio, reliability, smooth running and easy to maintain.   Won’t know exactly until we get it on the dyno; but my expectation is 260+hp.

 

The weight of my engine on a basis similar to those quoted for aircraft engine is 358 lbs. (including radiators, coolant and re-drive).  The total firewall back with mount, accessories, lines, oil cooler, etc., excluding prop, is 414 lbs.; a little heavier than a 200 hp Lycoming, but probably close to a 220hp Franklin.  To the best I can estimate, the c.g. of the engine package is a couple inches closer to the firewall than Lycoming resulting in about the same moment to the airplanes c.g.

 

Reliability of the engine is proven; the reliability of the overall installation is; of course, largely dependant on my engineering and the quality of the fabrication of the many custom parts.

 

3D Animated Rotor                         

Engine block (Atkin’s Rotary) and Velocity Franklin mount

                     

Modified Franklin mount

 

               

  Custom induction and exhaust                       Custom coil mount, Corvette LS1 coils

 

    

                 Custom oil cooler                     Wing-root radiator             In-cowl rad and scoop

 

        

 

         

Nearly complete engine package (minus re-drive)

            

                                

Engine top view.  Primary injectors on the block, secondaries in throttle body.  For redundancy, completely separate wiring for each set of injectors; and for leading and trailing sparkplugs.  The engine can operate on either set.

                                                           

                                                           

                                                             

                                                             

                                                             

                                                             

                                                             

                                                             

                                                             

There are also two fuel pumps; either of which will handle full power operation.  And, of course, all the redundant systems can run on either of two batteries.

                                                             

 

                                                           

 

 

 

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