The newsletter has been delayed from being issued quarterly with me moving to a 3 day working week back in December. I started another job in March with a different engineering firm, and it took until August until I could move back to a three day week. The extra time is now being spent on the jyrodyne.
Other “delays” included a week-long campout at Oshkosh for the EAA Fly-In.
Fourth Wing
All four of the leading edges have been completed. These are honeycomb/carbon fiber, with carbon fiber ribs, weight about 7 pounds apiece, and are quite stiff. Work on them this winter has consisted of smoothing and fairing.
Two R/C Models’ operation compared with simulator predictions
Two R/C models has not behaved as well as the X-Plane simulator would lead you to believe. Building and testing the models has uncovered some changes to the design which will be the subject of patents. Specifics will not be published until the patents are filed.
The canard was increased in size by roughly a factor of three, to help with the rear weight bias of the model.
The testing effort with the new models took approximately six months for the two models.
Drive Train Assembly
Work has started mounting Engine # 1 to the drivetrain. The first effort is to extend the drive train truss to accept Engine # 1. The objective is to install Engine # 1 this year, and run it using the drivetrain and tractor propeller.
The photo shows the first Sprague clutch/belt sprocket mounted at the back end of the drivetrain, along with the engine mount for Engine # 1.
The engine is bolted to the big flat plate in the foreground, which is shock mounted to the tubular frame underneath. This has been designed to handle a six G load before taking a permanent deflection. The other engine will be mounted slightly forward of this
Electrical Wiring
The electrical wiring to run the engine, and the engine monitoring system has been completed in a test rig,
This will be duplicated for the 2nd engine, with a full wiring harness being constructed on a wiring harness board.
The engine has been bumped, and the fuel pump started. Revisions to the rat’s nest of wiring will take place now that the wiring has been all worked out. The wiring is really not bad; the Hirth engine andGrand Rapidsengine monitoring system come partially pre-wired.
Bellmouth
Trimming and adjusting the bellmouth has finally been completed. The bellmouth is now round to within 1” of round for the full 120” diameter.
Next step after engine run, the passenger compartment will be mated to the bellmouth and drivetrain.
