Something in common

"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse) 03/30/2016 at 17:28 • Filed to: Wankel, Schleicher, Sachs

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A Schleicher motor glider

A Hercules W-2000 bike

They’ve something in common.

A rotary thing, to be specific a 294 cc single rotor Wankel engine. Not exactly the same one it must be said, but the modern airborne one is derived from its terrestrial predecessor.

Yes, the glider looks weird under power. When you actually want to glide the prop folds away out of sight.

ttyymmnn > Cé hé sin 03/30/2016 at 17:30

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Interesting. I've seen a glider with a small jet engine, but never a retractable prop.

Cé hé sin > ttyymmnn 03/30/2016 at 17:44

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They’re quite a thing, especially in Germany which has several makers.

Here’s another model from Schempp-Hirth which has a smaller engine used only as a range extender (it can’t take off with it)

Here’s a close up of an engine (a two stroke in this case) from another maker, DG:

Another solution is to use retractable blades on a conventionally mounted prop from yet another German maker, Stemme:

You push the cowling forward and start the engine whereupon centrifugal force extends the blades. Stop the engine and springs haul them back in out of sight so you can retract the cowling again.

ttyymmnn > Cé hé sin 03/30/2016 at 17:47

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Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Cé hé sin 03/30/2016 at 17:50

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I can barely tell those two vehicles apart. Thank you for schooling me.

I also think that though much maligned by some, it would be fun to have a Wankel engine, at least briefly, to try it out and listen to it.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Cé hé sin 03/30/2016 at 17:50

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That pop-up two-stroke thingie looks like it would add as much drag as thrust.

Cé hé sin > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 03/30/2016 at 18:50

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Looks awkward but it seems to work well enough for what it needs to do which is to get a very light plane into the air rather slowly and keep it there.

The first picture I posted showed the other arrangement, an engine mounted in the fuselage which gives less drag but also less access for servicing and more complication because you have to use a folding drive mechanism for the prop.