Ross Jahnke on 10/5/99 writes:

ROSSHEATHER.JAHNKE@prodigy.net (Ross Jahnke)

Joe,

I just re-read Lee Campbell's last e-mail and wanted to comment on his engine inspection regime. In fact the engine may not have to be dismantled in order to check the porting of the cylinder. The exhaust ports in all of my baby bee cylinders are large enough to give a good view of the intake port which resides between them. If there is a port on only one side its a baby bee, if there are ports on both sides its not.

My black widow has double slit exhaust ports which makes it nearly impossible to see its two intake ports. Are those exhuast ports unique to the black widow or are they universal on newer engines? If they are universal then removal of the cylinder or head would be necessary for inspection. I would hate to have this event encombered by constant inspection, but other gas events provide for varification of engine displacement and rubber fliers must get there motors weighed before each flight so its not too much of an imposition.

I also have a couple of golden bees, which seem to be identical to a baby bee except that the tank is larger and vented for inverted flight, like the black widow tank. Is my assessment correct? If so it to would be a legal engine, i.e. within the intended spirit of the event.

I also re-read Stephen Burtchett's e-mail endorsing the inclusion of all reed valve engines. Besides the black widow what would that include in the 049 size range? I remember that Testors had its own engines in control line models at one time. What is the rpm output of a black widow? If a black widow is better, then would the baby bee become a liability in competition?

Obviously I need to purchase a tachometer, and a dynamometer!

Ross Jahnke

This page last updated October 5, 1999. Send Comments to: joemek@aol.com