Dave----we are looking forward to the results!!!
Tom
Thanks Tom.
No argument but the TBO I am referencing is for the Sonex Jet
https://www.sonexaircraft.com/subsonex/. The engine is a TJ-100 turbojet engine
https://www.pbs.cz/en/our-business/aerospace/aircraftgines/jetgine-pbs-tj100 made by PBS Velk? B?te? of the Czech Republic. I recall people are also using them in the BD-5J. The TBO is not high, due to bearing replacement I recall. Is this an over sized RC jet engine. I think it more of a drone or cruise missile engine.
I understand that the TJ100 is a development of the Auxiliary Power Units that PBS built for many years for Eastern bloc aircraft. As far as I know, it was not a clean sheet design. It was not derived from a model aircraft engine so it is more complex than those simple engines, but you are correct, it's TBO is not impressive.
So yes if you can make an inexpensive, reliable turboprop with good BSFC great. Kit Plane or EAA Sport Aviation I recall had a RV-10 with a turbo prop, may be yours. The figures were interesting I recall. It performed about as well as a IO-540 but had more fuel burn or lower MPG...
The engine installed in the RV10 is a PBS TP100 which is a 240hp turboprop variant of the TJ100 turbojet used in the Subsonex. PBS hit the mark in providing some of the benefits of a turboprop engine (size, weight, runs on JetA), but for the experimental market, they missed the marks in price point (now around $130k for a 240hp engine), specific fuel consumption (cruise SFC from their own literature of 0.90 lbs/hp/hr which is twice that of piston engines - our SFC is targeted to be under 0.50 lbs/hp/hr), and reliability/TBO which have been reported to be both low.
With our engine, we hope to address all the factors that will make a turbine engine an attractive proposition for the experimental aircraft owner. Fairly soon, we will know whether we have achieved our aims or not.
Dave,
Definitely looking forward to the results... And waiting patiently for my deposit number to come around.
I greatly appreciate that you are open and, from what I've seen, honest with your vision and plans.
Heck... Even the website update is something that others have promised and never delivered within their own projects. It might be a small thing for some, but it shows that you are truly trying to develop a whole company around a product that you believe will be a success!
My only dilemma is what to do when my deposit comes up and I have finally decided I might need two of your engines...
Victor
Thanks for your patience Victor, as well as your ongoing support.
Bringing an engine to the market is not only about solving the technical issues to be able to offer a quality product, it's also about building a solid company around the business.
Our company has (at least) two significant priorities; the happiness and welfare of its employees and the satisfaction of its customers. We are working hard to address both these priorities. We are pretty confident that we have succeeded so far with the first priority with the small team that we have, but we know that we will have a lot of work still to do with the second priority.
I recognise that I have been guilty of not getting enough information out there to the handful of customers that we have and for that I apologise. With the lean team that we have been operating with while we undertake the development program for the engine, I have had to prioritise my time and efforts.
We have now taken steps to address the communications issue with the appointment of a Marketing and Communications Manager (Amanda) who has recently started with us. She is an absolute dynamo and has been responsible for developing our communications and marketing strategy. Hence the new website.
While the new website is currently only a landing page, Amanda is actively pursuing the development of the full website which will offer significantly more information to help a prospective customer make their buy decision. There will also be a dedicated forum which will include aircraft type specific sections for discussion around installation of our engines in specific aircraft models; ordering of engines and accessories will be done through the website; download of technical/installation manuals will be available; and there will be a restricted access dedicated section for registered owners.
We are also busy developing the infrastructure to support the engines in the field. After-sales support is probably more important than the support offered during the purchase process. Consequently, we are placing a high priority on establishing a network of approved service centres who will be able to offer high quality maintenance, repair and overhaul services.
Victor, as a gesture of my appreciation for your support as one of the handful of customers that have reserved a delivery slot, when we confirm whether you wish to accept your first engine, I will offer you the option on a second engine that will be within 10 serial numbers of the one that you have reserved now. That way if you want or need two, you can have two.
Discussing this is reminding me how much I have on my to-do list today so I'd better get on with it.
Dave