Rare Bird

[w2amr]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Y0XbqHUAI-0

[K7SGJ]

That is absolutely the coolest thing I've seen in antique autos. The technology for the time is amazing. Thanks for posting that, George, I really enjoyed watching it.

[KG4CGC]

I don't think that thing corners very well.

[K7SGJ]

I don't think that thing corners very well.


They didn't haven't corners back in those days, but the cars did have mini root cellars in them.

[NQ6U]

With the gyroscopic action generated by all that metal rotating, it probably turns quite quickly in one direction and like a cow in the other.

BTW, similar rotary engines were used in the early days of aviation.

[w2amr]

That is absolutely the coolest thing I've seen in antique autos. The technology for the time is amazing. Thanks for posting that, George, I really enjoyed watching it.I agree. I've never seen anything like it either.

[PA5COR]

Quite unique thanks for sharing ;)

[w2amr]

BTW, similar rotary engines were used in the early days of aviation.With a stationary crankshaft? I'll bet it was fun watching that try to fly.:mrgreen:

[w2amr]

Quite unique thanks for sharing ;)
You're velcome.

[NQ6U]

With a stationary crankshaft? I'll bet it was fun watching that try to fly.:mrgreen:

Yeah, they bolted the prop right to the crankcase. One was called the Gnome and there were several others that worked the same way. They called them rotary engines, not to be confused with a Wankel Cycle engine as used in some Mazdas which are frequently (and incorrectly) referred to by the same name. As you can imagine, having all the mass rotating had a lot of drawbacks on an airplane which is why they were dropped in favor of radial engines. Those also had a circular cylinder layout but with a more typical rotating crankshaft design.

More info here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_engine)

[K7SGJ]

Yeah, they bolted the prop right to the crankcase. One was called the Gnome and there were several others that worked the same way. They called them rotary engines, not to be confused with a Wankel Cycle engine as used in some Mazdas which are frequently (and incorrectly) referred to by the same name. As you can imagine, having all the mass rotating had a lot of drawbacks on an airplane which is why they were dropped in favor of radial engines. Those also had a circular cylinder layout but with a more typical rotating crankshaft design.

More info here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_engine)


And the radial aircraft engine has a very distinct sound to it. You can usually tell one is flying over without even looking up. Then, there is the Merlin engine. Nuff said.

[NQ6U]

And the radial aircraft engine has a very distinct sound to it. You can usually tell one is flying over without even looking up. Then, there is the Merlin engine. Nuff said.

I have a friend I've known since high school who used to work for Jack Cochran, the guy who built the Merlin engines that won several races at Reno. I visited him at the shop in Hollister, CA one time. It was freakin' awesome.

[w2amr]

Yeah, they bolted the prop right to the crankcase. One was called the Gnome and there were several others that worked the same way. They called them rotary engines, not to be confused with a Wankel Cycle engine as used in some Mazdas which are frequently (and incorrectly) referred to by the same name. As you can imagine, having all the mass rotating had a lot of drawbacks on an airplane which is why they were dropped in favor of radial engines. Those also had a circular cylinder layout but with a more typical rotating crankshaft design.

More info here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_engine)Very interesting stuff.