My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on July 10, 2007

Biodiesel continues to make inroads in the U.S. Here’s a link between America’s pastime and this clean domestic alternative fuel: Fox Sports will run its broadcasting equipment on B-20 in tonight’s Major League Baseball All-Star game. Well done Fox Sports!

FOX Sports Chooses All-Star Fuel for All-Star Game
Sports network commits to B20 for MLB All-Star Game and other sporting events

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.– Fans who tune into the Major League Baseball All-Star Game tonight will be watching a broadcast powered by biodiesel. FOX Sports will use B20, a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel, in all of its generators, satellite trucks and other diesel equipment at its television compound in San Francisco. What’s more, the company has committed to using B20 to power its broadcasts of the World Series, Super Bowl, the Bowl Championship Series and other major events.

The move is part of the “Cool Change Initiative” introduced by News Corporation, the parent company to FOX Sports.

“This initiative is an attempt to reduce our carbon footprint to neutral by 2010,” said Michael Davies, Director, Field Operations – FOX Sports. “The All-Star game presents the opportunity to start implementing some of these environmentally friendly practices, part of which is using B20 in our equipment.”

Davies said that biodiesel came recommended from other contractors in the ever-greening entertainment industry. Many musicians, actors and festivals use biodiesel in their generators and vehicles, including Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Pearl Jam, Willie Nelson, Daryl Hannah, the Coachella Music Festival, and the Bonnaroo Music Festival.

“The entertainment industry has led by example when it comes to using and promoting biodiesel,” said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. “It’s refreshing to see such high profile stars and companies embracing biodiesel and letting it help them take control of their impact on the environment and oil imports.”

The All-Star Game marks the first occasion that the sports network has tried B20.

“Biodiesel was an easy decision for us because it works in our regular generators without having to retool our existing equipment,” Davies said.

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from any vegetable oil or animal fat. It is most commonly made from soybean oil. American soybean farmers, through a program called the soybean checkoff, launched the U.S. biodiesel industry more than 15 years ago. Biodiesel significantly reduces emissions, including carbon monoxide, particulate matter and life cycle carbon dioxide.

link

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Posted By RichC on July 10, 2007

I don’t need another ‘gadget’ project since my plate is already full and progress on all my existing projects is moving slowly … but here’s something pretty cool. I subscribe to a dinghy email list that has been discussing an interesting weedwacker to outboard motor conversion that uses a standard run-of-the-mill 2 or 4-cycle string trimmer. The original idea so as far as I can tell comes from a creative Russian guy sharing auxiliary power for his catamaran. I’ll include the Flapdoodle Dinghy guy’s translation page link for a quick review as well as the author Bill Weller’s recent modified version here. Bill has been quite creative with his use of ‘wood’ although I’m sure someone good with fiberglass or composites could do something similar as well. I’m anxious to see how well this little auxiliary works on a dink. (I thought about Nor’Sea liveaboard Ben Eriksen and his ‘Amazing Technicolor Dinghy‘ when I first saw this idea)

Having owned several small lightweight outboards and recently buying a 4-cycle (quieter and cleaner) Troy-bilt Stringtrimmer, I thought that it would be perfect for a conversion. If someone wanted to actually convert a trimmer, they might want to look at the Troy-bilt 4-cycle model with the removable tools?

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Posted By RichC on July 8, 2007

Our EAA Chapter 284 was fortunate to have Gary Collins present his experiences in converting a Corvair engine for experimental aircraft use. Many aviation conversions have been done before, as they have with air cooled Volkswagen engines, but Gary’s personal notes and observation made for an exceptional source of information. He provide us with and enjoyable overview into both the mechanics of the conversion, the resources he used and a realistic cost breakdown (he est. $4000 with some scrounging). His personal notes (included below) were very helpfully and the hands on with a variety of parts he brought along a real treat. Thanks Gary, I look forward to visiting your shop.

THE CORVAIR AIRCRAFT ENGINE Gary B. Collins, EAA Chapter 174
Notes from William Wynne www.flycorvair.com Most recent stuff is at the “At The Hangar” heading
Need:
– Wynne conversion manual from WilliamWynne ($59)
– 1965 GM Corvair Chassis Manual ST-59 (about $25)
– How to keep your Corvair Alive by Richard Finch (about $20)
These and other parts and services you will need may be obtained from a Corvair parts warehouse:
Clark’s Corvairs
400 Mohawk Trail Rt. 2
Shelburn Falls, MS 01370
413-625-9776
The Corvair Underground
502-434-1648
Larry’s Corvair Parts
310-970-9851
Identifying engines – You want 164 cid (2700 cc), 110 hp 1965-69. With codes on case RD,RF,RH,RX,RK Engines from junkyards go from nothing to maybe $200.
You do not want the earlier smaller cid or dual carb or turbo engine. (A crank from a turbo engine would be OK as GM nitrided them) See Wynne for identifying all the engines.
CONVERSION MEANS Cleaning, Inspecting, and modifying-as little as possible.
Crankshaft modified to – mount the prop, strengthen Safety shaft ($76)
hybrid studs ($76)
Hub ($479) New and worth it.
Deep Nitriding (about $250)
Forged Pistons

Camshaft replaced with OT-10 from Clark’s. More lift, shifts torque peak to lower rpm.
Distributor — Buy from Wynne. ($239) It is modified and has two sets of points set 180 degrees apart and advance set to go from 8- 32 degrees. Engine will run on either system. Uses two coils and can switch between systems. Vacuum advance removed.

Use standard aircraft carb Marvell-Schebler MA3-SPA, Stromberg NAS-3, or Aerocarb. Intake to dual ports is ugly but the long pipes not a problem on the engine for aircraft use. If you were wanting fast acceleration as on a dragster they would not be good but at the RPM we are using and the relatively smooth, slow throttle movement in aircraft use, they work well.

Bell Housing becomes the front of the engine. Cut out with Saber saw or band saw. Will take 30 minutes to cut out and smooth the edges.

Blower housing removed and is replaced with at flat plate. ($49)

Use Ford Taurus ring gear ($99) and Subaru starter($209), John Deere garden tractor 20 amp dynamo.(about $200)

Have standard valve job from loc?1 shop or have heads modified by Wynne recommended shop.

New deep oil pan. ($269) New hydraulic lifters are about $2.50 apiece.

Standard Exhaust System works well and is cheap. Straight stacks will work. Custom made system will get you about 4% more power and weigh less-but cost more in time and money.

Wynne sells a complete engine ready to install for $7995.00 See his web site for details. I think you can build up your own for at least $3-4,000 less than that. It depends on how much you are willing to do or get done locally at little or no cost.

If you can build an airplane you can convert a Corvair engine. You will learn a lot about engines. If the object is to have the lowest possible risk then you should buy a Lycoming or a Continental. I decided that in a light sport plane with a low wing loading and thus a low landing speed, I could tolerate the risk. When I started working on mine Wynne was comfortable with a much less complex conversion. But to his credit, as he gains experience he is willing to change what he recommends. An example is the recommendation to have all crankshafts deep nitrided. That decision was made after he pulled several engines out of service for very careful magnaflux inspection after several crankshaft failures. Most showed cracks beginning in as little as 50 hours. Some of them were using prop extensions which he has always said should not be used. One did not show any sign of cracks and it was one of the cranks from a 180 hp turbo Corvair which GM had nitrided in the old fashioned way. The new deep nitriding process should toughen the cranks even more. Both Rotax and Jabraru engines have had crankshaft failures in the last 3 years so this problem is not only a problem for the Corvair.

With a Covair you will have a cool sounding 100+ horsepower, very smooth engine. It will not have fully redundant systems and will not be exactly equivalent to a certified engine. With all accessories it will weigh about 225 pounds which is the installed weight of an 0-200 Cont. Testing by Wynne has shown the 0-200 to put out about 85 hp while on the same test rig, the Corvair will put out an honest 100 hp. Any plane that has flown on the 0-200 will fly well with the Corvair. It will cruise at 28-2900 rpm at low altitude and 3200 rpm up high. Some of the 3 100 cc Corvairs are pulling KR-2s and the Sonex around at 170 mph and 3600 rpm but those planes would perform just fine with a 2700 cc Corvair at perhaps half the cost.

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Posted By RichC on July 7, 2007

July 7, 2007 = 07/07/07 = 7.7.07: There are 38,000 wedding in the U.S. today; its the biggest day for wedding we’ve ever seen in the U.S. — let’s hope all those getting married will be “lucky.” (or preferably “blessed”) This number is well over double the popular June wedding days and is probably taxing for the floral industry and all the people associated with putting together weddings, their ceremonies and receptions. Yikes, now that I think about it, we have two wedding to go to yet this month.

Also an interesting piece of mail arrived in our mailbox, and I think its the first time we’ve ever received a “message in a bottle.” What a better way to get mail from someone on vacation in Hawaii? (well technically not “we” … it was addressed to my daughter) Although I still don’t know the contents of this “message in a bottle,” it costs me 48 cents in “postage due” … and since I suspect the person sticking me with this extra expense is probably reading this, I’m putting her on notice. BTW … thanks for the interesting piece of mail in an otherwise ‘ad’ and ‘bills’ filled box. (you are such and artist — I noticed the ‘stick figure’)
😉

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Posted By RichC on July 6, 2007

Friends that know me might wonder if I’m still building an airplane in my garage — the answer is ‘yes’ (I’m still working s-l-o-w-l-y) and ‘no.’ (haven’t complete anything on the Sonex this summer, but have been working on the MGB) The plans that I’ve purchased to build from are produced by Sonex Aircraft out of Oshkosh Wisconsin. The family company will be displaying a new experimental ‘green powerplant’ later this month at AirVenture, so if you attend, be sure to say hello from me … “reserved N number” N43SX builder. (write-up after my last visit in 2005)

Sonex To Unveil Green Powerplant At AirVenture
Sonex Aircraft says it will unveil a new proof-of-concept aircraft at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., later this month that’s propelled by a “revolutionary” environmentally friendly powerplant. Sonex and AeroConversions Products will reveal their E-Flight project at a press conference on Tuesday, July 24, at AeroShell Square, the center of the show at Oshkosh, the company said on Tuesday. The project is a research and development initiative to explore viable alternative energies for powering the sport aircraft of tomorrow, Sonex said. The aim of E-Flight is to reduce the environmental impact of sport flying, while keeping recreational aviation affordable. Sonex and AeroConversions will also host a forum on Wednesday, July 25, at 11:30 a.m. in forum building 11 (REMOS Aircraft Pavilion).

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Posted By RichC on July 5, 2007

I know my TDI will ‘zoom-zoom-zoom’ (sorry Mazda), but I didn’t know that a hybrid Toyota Prius was capable of 100 miles per hour? Now I do, thanks to the 24-year-old son of former Vice President Al Gore, who was arrested for drug possession on Wednesday after he was stopped traveling about 100 mph in his hybrid Toyota Prius at 2:15 a.m. south of Los Angeles. Sadly, the drug store found inside his car shows a young man headed for trouble. (is a Prius still considered ‘green’ if the driver is smoking pot and driving 100?)

The deputy smelled marijuana and searched the car, said sheriff’s spokesman Jim Amormino. The search turned up a small amount of marijuana, along with prescription drugs including Valium, Xanax, Vicodin, Adderall and Soma. There were no prescriptions found, he said.

Gore was arrested on suspicion of drug possession and booked into the Inmate Reception Center in Santa Ana, about 34 miles south of Los Angeles, on $20,000 bail. Although he quickly identified himself as the son of the former vice president, Amormino said Gore received no special privileges.

Gore made bail and was released at 2 p.m., Amormino said. He will receive notice of a court date within 30 days.

LINK

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Posted By RichC on July 4, 2007

David Johnson’s short piece does a pretty good job of filling in some missing details pertaining to America’s Independence Day. I needed a refresher.

America celebrates July 4 as Independence Day because it was on July 4, 1776, that members of the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence.

Spontaneous Celebrations
Following its adoption, the Declaration was read to the public in various American cities. Whenever they heard it, patriots erupted in cheers and celebrations.

In 1777, Philadelphians remembered the 4th of July. Bells were rung, guns fired, candles lighted, and firecrackers set off. However, while the War of Independence dragged on, July 4 celebrations were modest at best.

When the war ended in 1783, July 4 became a holiday in some places. In Boston, it replaced the date of the Boston Massacre, March 5, as the major patriotic holiday. Speeches, military events, parades, and fireworks marked the day. In 1941, Congress declared July 4 a federal holiday.

Picnics and Games
Over time, various other summertime activities also came to be associated with the Fourth of July, including historical pageants, picnics, baseball games, watermelon-eating contests, and trips to the beach. Common foods include hot dogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, apple pie, cole slaw, and sometimes clam bakes.

Colonial Attractions
While the Fourth is celebrated across the country, historic cities like Boston and Philadelphia draw huge crowds to their festivities.

In Boston, the USS John F. Kennedy often sails into the harbor, while the Boston Pops Orchestra holds a televised concert on the banks of the Charles River, featuring American music and ending with the 1812 Overture.

Philadelphia holds its celebrations at Independence Hall, where historic scenes are reenacted and the Declaration of Independence is read.

Rodeos and Candles
Other interesting parties include the American Indian rodeo and three-day pow-wow in Flagstaff, Arizona, and the Lititz, Pennsylvania, candle festival, where hundred of candles are floated in water and a “Queen of Candles” is chosen.

John Adams Urged Recognition
The second president, John Adams, would have approved. “I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival,” he wrote his wife, Abigail. “It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…”

John Hancock Was First
John Hancock, the president of the Second Continental Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration. With its ornate capitals, Hancock’s sprawling signature is prominent on the document. Since then, when people are asked for their “John Hancock,” they are being asked to sign their names.

All 56 men who ultimately signed the Declaration showed great courage. Announcing independence from Great Britain was an act of treason, punishable by death.

A Marvelous Document
The Declaration of Independence itself has become one of the most admired and copied political documents of all time. It was written by Thomas Jefferson and revised by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Jefferson.

The Declaration of Independence is a justification of the American Revolution, citing grievances against King George III. It is also a landmark philosophical statement, drawing on the writings of philosophers John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau. It affirms that since all people are creatures of God, or nature, they have certain natural rights, or liberties, that cannot be violated.

The Declaration and the American Revolution have since inspired freedom-seekers the around the world.

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Posted By RichC on July 3, 2007

Oh I know there are plenty of great photographers and gorgeous portfolio sites available on the Internet, but Moe Witschard’s work impressed me enough to mention him. I’m planning on in including a print in my office someday … but which one?

Donna Lange sent me a few photos of her sons Keel and Cooper kayaking out in Montana and I was intrigued to check out the photographer. I’ve always enjoyed outdoor adventure photos and so besides included a couple below thought I’d mention Moe Witschard’s site. Besides being interesting to me, my friend Jeff regularly heads west to ski, hike, fly fish or to capture some natural beauty might enjoy some inspiration. If you’re interested in some great den photos, a few of Mr. Witschards’ photos are available as fine art prints.

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Posted By RichC on July 2, 2007

A bit of immaturity to start off the month of July and the lazy couple of days preceding the 4th of July Wednesday holiday. (Its really a week I should have scheduled a vacation, but then again about half of America will probably be doing that?)
Remember the television series the A-Team? Here’s a little modern day clip from the folks across the pond doing a bit of dieseling with a Volkwagen ‘family or business‘ vehicle. Its funny, but effective, in showing the advancements in both diesel technology and suspension/handling characteristics that have improved in modern vehicles. Above all … its an enjoyable YouTube clip that a friend over at the TDIClub brought to my attention.

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Tags: a-team, volkswagen, youtube

Posted By RichC on July 1, 2007

This means little unless you find yourself regularly reading blogs or posting on them for yourself … in addition to adding content on other blogs. I thought I would include this quiz link just for fun. Check out the “quiz” at Mingle2: How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

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