Innovative Thinking?
 

Joking, right?
 

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

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

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.

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. :eek:

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

Oh my
 

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

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... :eek:

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

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!

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.