Re: Locomotivation will Replace Internal Combustion

[Some Other Guy]

Howard Eisenhauer wrote:
> http://www.flixxy.com/besler-steam-airplane.htm

Cool! Interesting how easy prop reversal is, which makes sense since it's a
steam engine. The Wikipedia page claims that it was capable of STOL
operation since the prop could be used for braking on landing.

[a[_3_]]

On Jan 16, 3:42*pm, Some Other Guy > wrote:
> Howard Eisenhauer wrote:
> >http://www.flixxy.com/besler-steam-airplane.htm
>
> Cool! *Interesting how easy prop reversal is, which makes sense since it's a
> steam engine. *The Wikipedia page claims that it was capable of STOL
> operation since the prop could be used for braking on landing.

Larger prop driven airplanes did not reverse their props, but went
into beta range, meaning the pitch was negative, in effect pushing the
air forward, not back. Some complex singles also had beta range
capability for their prop pitch. It makes for shorter landings, does
not make for shorter take offs though.

[george]

On Jan 17, 9:42*am, Some Other Guy > wrote:
> Howard Eisenhauer wrote:
> >http://www.flixxy.com/besler-steam-airplane.htm
>
> Cool! *Interesting how easy prop reversal is, which makes sense since it's a
> steam engine. *The Wikipedia page claims that it was capable of STOL
> operation since the prop could be used for braking on landing.

Wow. Of course the jet prop does the same

[Some Other Guy]

a wrote:

> On Jan 16, 3:42 pm, Some Other Guy > wrote:
>> Howard Eisenhauer wrote:
>> >http://www.flixxy.com/besler-steam-airplane.htm
>>
>> Cool! Interesting how easy prop reversal is, which makes sense since
>> it's a steam engine. The Wikipedia page claims that it was capable of
>> STOL operation since the prop could be used for braking on landing.
>
> Larger prop driven airplanes did not reverse their props, but went
> into beta range, meaning the pitch was negative, in effect pushing the
> air forward, not back. Some complex singles also had beta range
> capability for their prop pitch. It makes for shorter landings, does
> not make for shorter take offs though.

But sites like

http://www.flyingkettle.com/besler6.htm

claim that the engine really did reverse:

Each time as the machine swooped down and the landing wheels touched
ground, the pilot pulled back a small lever at the side of the cockpit
and the steam engine at the nose of the plane instantly reversed,
whirling the propeller backwards, creating a powerful braking effect
which reduced the landing runs to a very short distance.

I have only run toy steam engines at home, but I do know that they are just
as happy to run one direction as another. I have never imagined one flying,
though.

[Morgans[_2_]]

"Some Other Guy" > wrote>
> But sites like
>
> http://www.flyingkettle.com/besler6.htm
>
> claim that the engine really did reverse:
>
> Each time as the machine swooped down and the landing wheels touched
> ground, the pilot pulled back a small lever at the side of the cockpit
> and the steam engine at the nose of the plane instantly reversed,
> whirling the propeller backwards, creating a powerful braking effect
> which reduced the landing runs to a very short distance.
>
> I have only run toy steam engines at home, but I do know that they are
> just
> as happy to run one direction as another. I have never imagined one
> flying,
> though.

I saw a video once of a guy with a steam powered plane. One thing he did
was back up on the ramp. It was funny to see steam blowing through the prop
backwards, the prop then stop and go the right way.
--
Jim in NC

[Jim Logajan]

"Morgans" > wrote:
> "Some Other Guy" > wrote>
>> But sites like
>>
>> http://www.flyingkettle.com/besler6.htm
>>
>> claim that the engine really did reverse:
>>
>> Each time as the machine swooped down and the landing wheels
>> touched ground, the pilot pulled back a small lever at the side of
>> the cockpit and the steam engine at the nose of the plane instantly
>> reversed, whirling the propeller backwards, creating a powerful
>> braking effect which reduced the landing runs to a very short
>> distance.
>>
>> I have only run toy steam engines at home, but I do know that they
>> are just
>> as happy to run one direction as another. I have never imagined one
>> flying,
>> though.
>
> I saw a video once of a guy with a steam powered plane. One thing he
> did
> was back up on the ramp. It was funny to see steam blowing through
> the prop backwards, the prop then stop and go the right way.

There is a a video on youtube that shows the Besler steam plane backing up
(starting around 2:45 into the video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw6NFmcnW-8

Thought this was a neat related video, showing a tiny steam driven RC-sized
prop:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOU3DBQGlzA