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Considering an engine change *not a serious thread - entertainment value only*

rolivi

rolivi

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I was watching Star Wars VII and asked Gemini, "I need a quadex power core for my Vans RV-6A"

Here's the reply.

While an experimental category (E-AB) aircraft gives you incredible freedom, swapping out your Lycoming for a Quadex hypermatter core might present a few minor "engineering challenges":

  • Weight and Balance: The CG calculation on your weight and balance sheet is going to be wildly out of limits. You might need a few sandbags in the baggage compartment just to keep the nose from pointing straight into deep space on taxi.
  • Cowling Modifications: Fitting a central hypermatter annihilation reactor inside a standard RV-6 nose cowl will require some... aggressive fiberglass work.
  • Propeller Integration: Your Catto prop might disintegrate the moment you feed direct reactor power to the crank, though you'd undoubtedly set the absolute ground-speed record at Oshkosh.
  • DAR Inspection: Explaining a liquid-metal fuel bypass system and hypermatter containment lines during your initial airworthiness inspection will make for an unforgettable conversation with your Designated Airworthiness Representative.
If you do manage to fabricate the custom engine mounts for it, just make sure to bypass the compressor before taking off!
 
Also panel upgrade. You probably have to upgrade to the generational imaging G53X pkg for propulsion monitoring duties & hyper nav UPS (universal positioning system).
 
Last edited:
rolivi said:
I was watching Star Wars VII and asked Gemini, "I need a quadex power core for my Vans RV-6A"

Here's the reply.

While an experimental category (E-AB) aircraft gives you incredible freedom, swapping out your Lycoming for a Quadex hypermatter core might present a few minor "engineering challenges":

  • Weight and Balance: The CG calculation on your weight and balance sheet is going to be wildly out of limits. You might need a few sandbags in the baggage compartment just to keep the nose from pointing straight into deep space on taxi.
  • Cowling Modifications: Fitting a central hypermatter annihilation reactor inside a standard RV-6 nose cowl will require some... aggressive fiberglass work.
  • Propeller Integration: Your Catto prop might disintegrate the moment you feed direct reactor power to the crank, though you'd undoubtedly set the absolute ground-speed record at Oshkosh.
  • DAR Inspection: Explaining a liquid-metal fuel bypass system and hypermatter containment lines during your initial airworthiness inspection will make for an unforgettable conversation with your Designated Airworthiness Representative.
If you do manage to fabricate the custom engine mounts for it, just make sure to bypass the compressor before taking off!
Click to expand...
No Problem. I've worked with quite a few "alternate engine" projects. We can make it work! May take a little extra time (and MONEY).
 
I was holding out to put in a Class 7 warp core in my next build. Sure, it might've almost shaken the Defiant apart, but we'll make it work. I think the hardest part will be making my right wingtip Bussard collector to glow green rather than red.

Maybe I'll just get a refurb'd warp core from a salvage Oberth class ship wreck. They're a dime a dozen.
 
rolivi said:
I was watching Star Wars VII and asked Gemini, "I need a quadex power core for my Vans RV-6A"

Here's the reply.

While an experimental category (E-AB) aircraft gives you incredible freedom, swapping out your Lycoming for a Quadex hypermatter core might present a few minor "engineering challenges":

  • Weight and Balance: The CG calculation on your weight and balance sheet is going to be wildly out of limits. You might need a few sandbags in the baggage compartment just to keep the nose from pointing straight into deep space on taxi.
  • Cowling Modifications: Fitting a central hypermatter annihilation reactor inside a standard RV-6 nose cowl will require some... aggressive fiberglass work.
  • Propeller Integration: Your Catto prop might disintegrate the moment you feed direct reactor power to the crank, though you'd undoubtedly set the absolute ground-speed record at Oshkosh.
  • DAR Inspection: Explaining a liquid-metal fuel bypass system and hypermatter containment lines during your initial airworthiness inspection will make for an unforgettable conversation with your Designated Airworthiness Representative.
If you do manage to fabricate the custom engine mounts for it, just make sure to bypass the compressor before taking off!
Click to expand...
So it's doable...you just have to get the parts! Wonder if they are on back order?
danny
 
I tried the same for my RV-12 with Copilot from Microsoft:

“Installing” a Quadex Hypermatter Core in a Van’s RV‑12​

Below is a technician‑grade, sequential procedure — treating the hypermatter core like a real alternate engine installation.

01​

Evaluate Structural Compatibility
Critical
A hypermatter core produces non-linear thrust and mass fluctuations, requiring a full structural review.

  • Map RV‑12 firewall geometry and load paths
  • Identify reinforcement points for reactor cradle mounts
  • Validate that the light-sport airframe can tolerate transient mass shifts
  • Plan for composite or titanium reinforcement plates
02
Design Reactor Mounting System

The RV‑12 engine mount must be replaced with a containment-rated cradle.

  • Replace tubular mount with a truss-style containment frame
  • Add vibration-damping isolators rated for quantum flux
  • Ensure mount alignment with RV‑12 thrust line to avoid yaw instability
  • Integrate emergency jettison latches (standard for hypermatter reactors)

03​

Modify Cowling for Reactor Geometry
Major Fiberglass Work
Hypermatter cores require expanded frontal volume and cooling apertures.

  • Extend cowling forward by 8–14 inches depending on core model
  • Add thermal venting louvers to dissipate annihilation-cycle heat
  • Reinforce cowling with heat-resistant resin
  • Ensure prop spinner clearance if retaining a propeller

04​

Integrate Power Transfer Assembly

The RV‑12’s Rotax-based drivetrain must be replaced with a reactor-to-prop or reactor-to-thrust converter.

  • Install quantum torque converter (QTC) to interface core output with mechanical prop shaft
  • If going prop-less, install plasma thrust vectoring nozzles
  • Add redundant containment field generators
  • Validate output stability at idle, cruise, and jump-thrust modes

05​

Upgrade Avionics for Hypermatter Monitoring
Avionics Overhaul
Standard RV‑12 avionics cannot monitor reactor parameters.

  • Add hypermatter containment status display
  • Install flux density gauges and annihilation-cycle counters
  • Integrate UPS (Universal Positioning System) for FTL drift compensation
  • Add emergency shutdown panel with triple-redundant safeties

06​

Recalculate Weight & Balance

Hypermatter cores alter mass distribution dynamically.

  • Establish baseline CG with reactor offline
  • Model CG shift during active cycles
  • Add ballast or trim actuators to maintain stability
  • Validate CG envelope through simulated flight profiles

07​

Prepare DAR Documentation
Good Luck
A Designated Airworthiness Representative will require extensive documentation.

  • Provide reactor containment schematics
  • Provide thrust output certification data
  • Document emergency jettison system
  • Prepare explanation for why you installed a hypermatter core in an LSA
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mel
I'm still in the developmental stage, but given a few more years I think I can shrink it down to RV size...

IMG_20260525_093713264_HDR 800w.jpg
 
I'm thinking a flux capacitor might be the ticket so you can go back just far enough to not do the mistakes you did when you built your RV........or waste the money on junk you thought you were going to use or install.....and didn't.........
 
Webb said:
I'm thinking a flux capacitor might be the ticket so you can go back just far enough to not do the mistakes you did when you built your RV
Click to expand...
Now here's an idea. With a Flux capacitor I could fly 24 hours a day and never reach TBO. :)
 
Might as well just go full Evil Overlord at that point.

Peter's Evil Overlord List said:

The Top 100 Things I'd Do If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord​

  1. My Legions of Terror will have helmets with clear plexiglass visors, not face-concealing ones.

  2. My ventilation ducts will be too small to crawl through.

  3. My noble half-brother whose throne I usurped will be killed, not kept anonymously imprisoned in a forgotten cell of my dungeon.

  4. Shooting is nottoo good for my enemies.

  5. The artifact which is the source of my power will not be kept on the Mountain of Despair beyond the River of Fire guarded by the Dragons of Eternity. It will be in my safe-deposit box. The same applies to the object which is my one weakness.

  6. I will not gloat over my enemies' predicament before killing them.

  7. When I've captured my adversary and he says, "Look, before you kill me, will you at least tell me what this is all about?" I'll say, "No." and shoot him. No, on second thought I'll shoot him then say "No."

  8. After I kidnap the beautiful princess, we will be married immediately in a quiet civil ceremony, not a lavish spectacle in three weeks' time during which the final phase of my plan will be carried out.

  9. I will not include a self-destruct mechanism unless absolutely necessary. If it is necessary, it will not be a large red button labelled "Danger: Do Not Push". The big red button marked "Do Not Push" will instead trigger a spray of bullets on anyone stupid enough to disregard it. Similarly, the ON/OFF switch will not clearly be labelled as such.

Click to expand...
 
Ironflight said:
This DAR would LOVE to work with you on such a conversion…..😉🤣
Click to expand...
No DAR or FAA inspection or approval needed. It could just sit there in your garage. Just get in it and go. You could be back before you left and you would have had a great flight to wherever and nobody would be the wiser.
 
Hey, Mel,
How much test time would you require for the Phase 1 on this major mod? And how big a test area, given the...um...higher speeds involved?
 
scrollF4 said:
Hey, Mel,
How much test time would you require for the Phase 1 on this major mod? And how big a test area, given the...um...higher speeds involved?
Click to expand...
Test time I would have to think about.

About the "test area", I guess this is as good a time as any to announce that the new Order 8130.2m that just became effective yesterday deleted the test area limit for phase I. Once signed off you are free to go! You only have to comply with §91.305, which basically keeps you away from congested areas.
 
Mel said:
Test time I would have to think about.

About the "test area", I guess this is as good a time as any to announce that the new Order 8130.2m that just became effective yesterday deleted the test area limit for phase I. Once signed off you are free to go! You only have to comply with §91.305, which basically keeps you away from congested areas.
Click to expand...
Good thing deep space is uncongested!.
 
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