Alternative Engine Fans...
Last night I emailed Belted Air Power through their website asking Jess Meyers if he'd come back here and post an update on the latest happenings with Belted Air. Jess replied this morning...answering the questions I had posed but declining to come back over here and "mix it up" again. Like so many he gets tired of the serial skeptics and the unending banter, etc. etc. In follow up he responded in detail to my many questions. He gave me permission to post his replies here. I have edited the paragraph structure just for ease of reading:
Last night I emailed Belted Air Power through their website asking Jess Meyers if he'd come back here and post an update on the latest happenings with Belted Air. Jess replied this morning...answering the questions I had posed but declining to come back over here and "mix it up" again. Like so many he gets tired of the serial skeptics and the unending banter, etc. etc. In follow up he responded in detail to my many questions. He gave me permission to post his replies here. I have edited the paragraph structure just for ease of reading:
From: [email protected] A
Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:24:02 EDT
Subject: Re: Request for Update
Dan, I didn't know we had anything on the VAF forum's unless your talking about the fellow in Texas's site, it got to be nothing but people talking about harmonic devices that we decided they haven't nor will ever do anything but talk and thought it was a waste of our time.
Thanks for following us though. We are involved with several projects, a four seater from Australia using our FWF, Testing the Vari-Prop which is comming along great, and possibly a new drive for the smaller Chevy V-6 60 degree engines.
Jess
From: [email protected]
Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:23:18 EDT
Subject: Re: Request for Update
Dan, I'll try to ally your fears
1. The Vari-Prop has gone through complete engineering and partial re-design to simplify the maintenace of the unit.
2. Yes we trust it.
3. It shortens the distance slightly but will indicate 1500 fpm climb with a density altitude of 5000 msl.
4. Cruise speed is where you want to set it.
5. At 2500 engine rpm and 20" it indicates 130 mph for a fuel burn of 3-3.5 gph. This is one of the things were looking at is endurance.
5. It now can use the Lipps blade profile
6. It made the engine run much cooler at 110 F OAT
7. It will hopefully be on the market by this fall.
8. I think the projected cost was 5-5500.00
We have 75 RV's with the Chevy flying.
I think one fellow in Alabama removed his for a 200 HP Lyc.
Yes we have people one customer who purchased two, but unfortunately he died of an unexpected heart attack 4 months ago.
I'll try to find some in an area close to you. We have one in MN who did not use our whole package and mounted the radiator on the bottom of the plane and is very happy with it.
The planes perform like a 6 or 6A of 180 HP fixed pitch prop, except they use less fuel.
I haven't heard from Dr. Minichan for a while [RV-9A Chevy builder].
We are developing the new drive for the smaller hp requirement planes ie. Zenair, etc. and the Mustang by Titan.
Since the manifold is heated by coolant (190 degrees) or the exhaust crossover...carb ice has not been an issue. Not to say that in a blinding snow storm it wouldn't ice over but the air intake could possibly also, and my question is why are you flying single engine in known icing conditions without de-ice capability and hot props. We have not used carb [heat] and have flown into known icing conditions over a dry lake south of town with a 800 foot ceiling on the breakout. Ice on windshield, slight on wings engine ran fine. Will I do it again? NO. Minnesota is the farthest north where it's known cold and [there is] one in Calgary Canada. No [carb] ice problems. When it's that bad they don't fly anything.
Behind the radiator is an area where we have installed a flapper valve and take 190 degree air into the cabin and on to the windshield works great, no extra connections and clean air.
I still recommend calling ahead, come out and fly in ours, check with a comparable one with a Lycoming and make a valid decision.
Jess
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