Warbird Information Exchange

These are Rotec radial engines being made in Australia, I think. Here is a link: http://www.rotecradialengines.com/ - it is a bit slow to open.

Randy

That's so if you get a cylinder shot off down in the ghetto, you can still make it home.

I'll be impressed when they mount a Gnome engine inside the rear tire. You wouldn't need a driveline, but stopping might be a problem!

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Life's a Pitts

Hi Jason,

Great idea!!

The only minor problem I see with that would be the "blip switch". It might be a real eye opener in traffic.!

Glenn

I wonder if the fuel guage reads gallons per hour.

Tim

Actually the radial inside the wheel has been done...."Megola Sport, 640 cc, 14 hp, Germany, 1922. The Megola was first and only motorcycle to locate the engine in the wheel. There was no clutch or gearbox: While the engine and wheel rotated forward, the crankshaft, which operated via the gear train, functioned six times as quickly in the opposite direction, which meant the driving forces were equally distributed. The Megola ceased production in 1926, a casualty of post-war Germany's economic chaos. Scrool down on this page to see the bike".... http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcmuseum/gug.html and http://www.virginiawind.com/byways/history_04.asp

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Civis Aerius Sum

I am a citizen of the Air

If the owner of the bike in the top picture had any balls at all, there'd be a prop on that ride!

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"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

He used to have balls and installed the prop. He started the engine and the balls were not seen ever since.

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Olivier Lacombe -- Harvard Mk.4 C-GBQB

Fuel consumption on the R2800 is 22 litres per hour @ 80% power..lessee
with a 3 or 4 gallon tank...Well, let's just say he'll be driving from gas station to gas station,
but will look REALLY COOL doing it.

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

ok Glenn, I'm loading up my tools and heading back to Indiantown.....oh wait, somebody beat us to it- Thank goodness! I didn't want to have to test ride that thing anyway.......

Thanks for the link Slinky. So I am impressed after all. I wonder what made them put it in the front wheel? Weight maybe? Unbelievable.

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Life's a Pitts

Hello Jason,

They're not mine, someone emailed the pics to me.

I should have posted them under the "Conventional gear take-off techniques..." thread so that we could debate over which one would go the straightest!!

Glenn