Radial engine conversion?

rudymantel · Post by **rudymantel** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 10:56 pm

Wouldn't a 170 look neat with a radial engine, say a 165 Warner ?
It would be a mini-195 ! I wonder if anyone ever attempted this ?
Rudy

Tom Downey · Post by **Tom Downey** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 2:51 am

165 Warner too hard to come by, to put on some spam can, tail wheel or not.

Warner owner operator

dkalwishky · Post by **dkalwishky** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 3:00 am

Spam Can? I do not regard my beautiful '56 172 as a spam can.

Dave Clark · Post by **Dave Clark** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 2:02 pm

Rudy

Then we'd have to figure out how to get rid of the struts, how bout just getting an airmaster?

Or how about using that little Russian radial like on the Yak?

I've worked on enough radials... I like my O-360 Lyc!

Post by **GAHorn** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 4:09 pm

It'd be cheaper to simply buy a 190/195. (And the reason Cessna got away from radials was due to their humongous frontal area and all that drag.) But if you really like cleaning up all that oil, why don't you double your pleasure and get a T-50! (And avoid the Spam can accusations.)

(And don't let 'em get to you dkalwishky,... oily-rag drivers are just jealous!)

rudymantel · Post by **rudymantel** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 9:17 pm

Yes, a T-50 ! Love 'em ! I got my multi engine rating in one and flew one in an air ambulance operation back in 1958- I'd love to own one with good wood and good fabric...and good engines of course, as with only one running it only goes in one direction- down !
I'll always remember those shaky Jakes !
Rudy

rudymantel · Post by **rudymantel** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 9:20 pm

Dave, that Russian engine is 300 hp and probably too heavy-
Rudy

R COLLINS · Post by **R COLLINS** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 1:53 am

Rudy,
Just wanted to let you know you are not the only one that would love to see what a 170 would look like with a 165 Warner. I have even searched classifieds looking for one thats reasonable. Don't let the other guys discourage you, a plane with round wings tips and round tail feathers should have a round motor right

. I have seen pictures of someone putting a 90hp Ken Royce radial on a Luscombe 8 series and it looked awesome. I did not follow up on his progress so i'm not sure if he ever got it certificated or just left it as experimental. While I'm thinking about it I may see if I can run the N number and check the status on it.

Cheers, Randal N1745D

rudymantel · Post by **rudymantel** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 2:47 am

Randal, I bet that Luscombe looked nice- there was a Luscombe Phantom with a radial engine (Warner or Ken-Royce ?) that was very pretty. There were only a few built, before the war (WW2), and I recall admiring one at Flushing Airport in NY back in the '40's.
I know a fellow in Miami who has an absolutely gorgeous Monocoupe with a Warner. It was built by a guy in Zellwood, Florida who also has the kit building right to the Pitts Model 12 (the "Macho Pitts") which is a bit like an S-2 with a Russian 300 hp (M-12?) engine.
And Curtis Pitts recently designed a completely new airplane, the Pitts Model 14, a sport plane (not competition aerobatic) with a straight top wing, powered by a 360 hp Russian radial. It will be manufactured in kit form by Steen Aero Lab in Palm Bay, Florida. see http://www.steenaero.com/Pitts14/ . So radial engine airplanes are alive and well ! Curtis Pitts- he's an amazing gentleman- 88 years old and still designing airplanes ! (We're old friends- he built my PittsS1-S back in'68)
Rudy

rudymantel · Post by **rudymantel** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 2:51 am

Iwas wrong- the Pitts Model 12 has a 360 hp Russian engine and the Model 14 is powered by a 400 hp Russian engine-
Rudy

Post by **GAHorn** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 5:04 pm

Rudy, if you do that ... do NOT come to me looking for parts!

R COLLINS · Post by **R COLLINS** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 9:37 pm

Rudy,
I have seen a few ads for the new Pitts with a radial and it did look very appealing. Did you know that Luscombe built a gull wing, four place plane, named a Colt. It was based here in Texas, a tornado destroyed it in the early 90's. It was all metal, had a 190hp Lycoming, and a throw over control yoke. One of the most beautiful planes I have ever seen, and its ashamed that the remnants now reside in a barn or shop somewhere in the Carolina's, and probably will never fly again. The same gentleman that owned it also had previously owned two different Phantoms. Back to the 170 with a Warner engine idea, the specs for an Airmaster with a 145hp gives a 75% cruise of 134kts and its empty/gross weights are higher than a 170. BTW Gahorn, if Rudy had a 165hp Warner on his 170, he would not want you to bring him any parts because he would have to wait too long for you to catch up.

Later, Randal

funseventy · Post by **funseventy** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 11:34 pm

I remember Joe Johnson's Colt really well. And for those of you who go to Oshkosh, his Phantom is the one at the EAA Museum. (Red and White).

I saw the Ken Royce Luscombe somewhere. He was building it up as a crude replica of a model of Luscombe that actually had a Ken Royce in it.
I think it was at the Bartlesville Fly-in.

blueldr · Post by **blueldr** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 3:25 am

Radial engines really do make a lovely sound, especially if the exhaust is all collected into one outlet. However, they drink a pot full of oil under all circumstances. That which doesn't leak out is consumed in copious quantities compared to a flat engine. Damn few owners of radial engined airplanes buy their oil in containers as small as one quart.

jon s blocker · Post by **jon s blocker** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 2:11 pm

Randal,
I have a picture of that Colt. The gentalman that owned it bought a 7AC Champ from me after it was rolled up in a little ball during a tornado here in south Texas in the early 80's. He rebuilt the Champ and sent me a finished picture of it along with a picture of the Colt. A beautiful aircraft.
Jon

The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Radial engine conversion?

Radial engine conversion?

Luscombe colt