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MFAFF MFAFF is online now
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: London
Posts: 1,832
Rotary engines give great manoeuverability, in the same direction as the gyrpscopic effects.....

Pretty tough to go against them though.

The biggest issues was the lack of fine throttle control that they have, as I recall its either on or off.....no great as power increases...

The vibration was also a reall problem in creating a 'stable' weapons platform, after all that's what aircraft were required to do.

They were however very simple to build and service and need little skill in operation.

There was a radial engined car, was it a pre war Tatra or Ludwincka (?) designed compact., similar in time to the original Porsche designed Beetle.

In car use the greatest difficulty is getting even cooling airflow to the cylinders. In aircraft they are mounted a 90 degress to direction of travel, could pose a problem on a car.....The car mounted ones were lying flat at the back with ducting, not idea.

The flat arrangement was easier to cool andprovided a much lower crankshaft line....

Great engines though. Someobdy once 'joked' that they were oil fired and petrol cooled.......
Old 11-13-2003, 01:39 AM
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