On Mon, 13 Feb 2006 01:58:54 -0500, "Morgans" wrote:


"Ron Wanttaja" wrote in message
.. .

Saw one at Oshkosh, in the Ultralight area, about 1988. Was called the
"RB-1", and for a "band" had some stuff that was originally used on
high-tension lines for insulation or some such. Heard it had flown
successfully, a distance of about 300 feet.

Do you recall if it had some kind of gearing between the engine and the
prop? I would think you would need to turn some of the torque into higher
RPM to turn the prop, to maximize run time. Just a guess.

No gearing, just one hay-el of a lot of pitch on the prop.

Guess what, I was able to find one of the pictures:

http://www.wanttaja.com/RB1.jpg

Unless it's somewhat of a little tiny planetary gearbox, it's direct-drive.

It could, of course, be some sort of hoax, but I do recall hearing more about it
at the time.

(I originally wrote, "...some sort of joke..." but that's already a given. :-)

Ron Wanttaja