Rare Bear Flight ???

[t-dub]

Re: Rare Bear Flight ???

Oops.
Not only are the days running together, but now the years are...

I feel your pain Leo, my wife gives me a hard time about it all the time.......... Like the saying goes,"I may be getting old, but i refuse to grow-up".............

[RichH]

Re: Rare Bear Flight ???

All this speculation about where the next engine for the Bear is coming from...don't forget the one before Dewlle's. That was a pretty highly modified race engine that served the Bear well for many years (with several rebuilds of course). Can't remember for sure, but wasn't that the engine that swallowed a big chunk of "aerospace filler"? (WOW, speaking of blurs...)

I don't recall that Lyle's last engine (financed by the fans and Doug Coates' Estate) grenaded, so there had to be enough large pieces left to be a starting point for a rebuild.

It was the Dwelle engine that swallowed the bondo. They raced with the same engine last year and it blew. The last Lyle engine blew with Ron B. at the stick. If that engine was in re-buildable shape I don't know why they wouldn't have started on it back when it was swapped for the Dwelle motor (see pic I previously posted). I know they were talking about having a spare...

[Leo]

Re: Rare Bear Flight ???

Ya mean THIS engine?

[RichH]

Re: Rare Bear Flight ???

Yep...

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Rare Bear Flight ???

This thread has sort of drifted way off topic from the original title but I'll add a bit of commentary on the Merlin end of it. Though Dwight passed with most of his engine secrets, either with him, or passed to one or a few people who will not share them (at least, as told by them) unless it benefits Dwights estate.. .it certainly appears that either his secrets or new, perhaps equally effective solutions, have been discovered. Not only did the Merlin engine airplanes finish "well" last year, they appeared to hold together far better than in year's past...

If what I'f said is, indeed, fact... then we're in for some good years here, with the inline's and roundies goin' at it again with real competition and more innovation! Should make for very exciting racing, indeed!

[Arctic Cat]

Re: Rare Bear Flight ???

I spoke with someone who worked with the crew when the Ron B engine failure occurred. He told me it was run at High power setting with the ADI in the off position and then power was brought back & the ADI turned. This made a HUGE mess of the engine when it was shock cooled by all the incoming adi fluid. His words were "totally destroyed". I don't know exactly what totally destroyed means but it was definatley more than just a burnt piston or a bad bearing.

[Leo]

Re: Rare Bear Flight ???

I remember the loud BANG just after the home pylon It sure sounded like more than a burned piston.
On the Merlin side, in 2006 Dago had a messy mayday (picture attached) and we were at his pit as they uncowled her. The Merlins Magic crew were standing there watching and were very proud to announce that the hole in the "Magic" engine was bigger than the one in Dago's...
Whatever secrets they are using to keep them together nowdays, my hat is off to them. The racing engines are so high strung. Compare to a stocker like Sparky that has gone many years without major work 9until this year) because they don't go so fast!
I listen constantly for the Bear in the air. I have a feeling that it will pop up one day soon and surprise everyone.

[t-dub]

Re: Rare Bear Flight ???

I spoke with someone who worked with the crew when the Ron B engine failure occurred. He told me it was run at High power setting with the ADI in the off position and then power was brought back & the ADI turned. This made a HUGE mess of the engine when it was shock cooled by all the incoming adi fluid. His words were "totally destroyed". I don't know exactly what totally destroyed means but it was definatley more than just a burnt piston or a bad bearing.

I remember hearing something about that now that you mention it. What Ron thought was "on" was actually "off" and visa versa......

[t-dub]

Re: Rare Bear Flight ???

I listen constantly for the Bear in the air. I have a feeling that it will pop up one day soon and surprise everyone.

Yeah Leo, I also have an ear tuned in to Stead on a daily basis waiting for that familiar Bear growl as she leaves the cave...........

[Mluvara]

Re: Rare Bear Flight ???

I spoke with someone who worked with the crew when the Ron B engine failure occurred. He told me it was run at High power setting with the ADI in the off position and then power was brought back & the ADI turned. This made a HUGE mess of the engine when it was shock cooled by all the incoming adi fluid. His words were "totally destroyed". I don't know exactly what totally destroyed means but it was definatley more than just a burnt piston or a bad bearing.

Having the ADI "OFF" when you need it is FAR more detrimental than having it "ON" when you don't need it... Parts stick and metal is made when temperatures get too high. I seriously doubt it was an issue of shock cooling.

Michael

[stuntflyr]

Re: Rare Bear Flight ???

Maybe going lean when the circuits swapped at "too high" power, if it was switched at high power?

I had the impression there was an unassembled Lyle engine at someone's shop that was never fully paid for and it is still out there. It was neither the Ron engine or the Dwelle engine.

Anyone?

[Warbird5]

Re: Rare Bear Flight ???

Morning All,

This is really an interesting thread. Interesting in that the people that really know are probably reading it and not saying a word.

Here is what I'll speculate is happening or not happening. The fact The Bear has not flow is not surprising, as this team is always a late to the party darling. So I would not read too much into them not flying at this point. Plus the team seems to actually get the job done better when their backs are against the wall so to speak. With this out of the way we come to what I believe is the main issue. A lack of an engine.

Most will agree that there does not appear to be suitable race engine on the Bear at present. If we all agree to this then the only questions that remain to be addressed are: 1. Is there an engine being finished by some unknown person or shop that will be delivered in the next couple of weeks or so? 2. What if there is not engine ready now or being worked on? I'll leave the answers to you.

Engine performance at Reno is and has always been dependent on bearings. This is especially true for round motors, more so for round motors that are pushed to the limits of their performance and endurance. Other than pistons, it's bearings that are the life and death of these engines. Now I hear R3350 bearings are hard to come by due to engine work for a Connie in Europe. This is all rumor, but it is an interesting rumor. If money is not a constraint, then suitable new bearings can/could be made. But if they haven't been made by now then it's probably too late for this years race. Even if they have been made and are being installed that would be an untested component that could be prone to failure when stressed at race power settings.

The Bear has always accelerated very, very quickly. Couple that with the victories she has amassed I would never count her out. She is a integral part of the Reno lore and the show just would not be the same with out her. But this team thrives on the late night and last minute trash. It seems to be just part of their DNA so to speak. So sitting here forty days before the green flag without an engine is about normal for them.

Without flying the Bear till just before show time they put themselves in the position of fixing what breaks as it happens, and doing this as quickly as possible. Something will break that they don't have the parts to fix, so then they need to quickly locate and transport suitable parts from who know where to Stead.

Like I said, watching the Bear boys and listening to all the rumors and stories are one of the beat parts of race week at Reno.

See ya on the ramp.

Willie

[Mluvara]

Re: Rare Bear Flight ???

Maybe going lean when the circuits swapped at "too high" power, if it was switched at high power?

I had the impression there was an unassembled Lyle engine at someone's shop that was never fully paid for and it is still out there. It was neither the Ron engine or the Dwelle engine.

Anyone?

Most ADI systems on radials should be turned on above 50"-55" or so of MAP. If they are never turned on above this level, imminent meltdown is near. On just about every aircraft that Kerch has been involved with, he installs automatic systems, such that if the pilot forgets to turn on the system, it is done automatically by a pressure switch. Far too many engines have failed because a system was not on when it should have been.

Here is some good reading for those interested on ADI and aircraft engine cooling and system. Pete Law shared A LOT of valuable info here.

http://www.enginehistory.org/Convention/2005/Presentations/LawPete/ADI.pdf

http://www.enginehistory.org/Convention/2005/Presentations/LawPete/Cooling.pdf

Michael