News - Helibug Aerodyn Power Module

[carey shurley]

Another new product from Helibug, its called the Alligator Aerodyn

Helibug Alligator Aerodyn

This is a totally new engine module variant. In this setup the cooling fan shroud is removed and the fan is lightened by removing the outer set of cooling fins. The idea here is to reduce weight

I'm probably not explaining this adequately so I'd recommend following the link and reviewing the photographs

It would appear that this will be the basis for an entirely new line of conversions based on this power module. The first being for the Trex 600 series

Helibug Aerodyn Trex 600 Conversion

[rbort]

Looks like Ali decided to take out the bottom motor cover and cut the cooling fan in half. Should be lighter for sure however the engine would run warmer as well, less meat for the heat to propagate to and less cooling will probably work OK in cooler weather its the hotter weather that one needs to be more vigilant about engine temps.

-=>Raja.

[banshee rider]

Interesting
less weight on fly wheel means engine will rev faster
half the blades means less h.p. used for blowing cooling air = more usable h.p.
but what will be the temperature increase ?

If a person doesn't increase head speed or pitch it may be a wash

Have to wait and see as I am not usually an early adopter !

[banshee rider]

Carey have they done any testing on it yet ?

[carey shurley]

Carey have they done any testing on it yet ?

no, I didn't know it existed prior to the day I posted the news

[jharkin]

Originally Posted by banshee rider

Interesting
less weight on fly wheel means engine will rev faster

But that may only make a meaningful difference in initial spool up (where we don't want it to be fast anyway). Once the clutch is locked up the engine is turning the entire mass of the full gear train and blades anyway so I'm not sure how significant the effect will be? Maybe it will recover a little better from bogging, i don't know.

(actually this is a good questions for people who have flown both RC and PUH formats- do PUH feel snappier and recover better?)


The cooling I agree is concerning. Note that Ali says he only supports it for stock engines because "tuned engines make too much heat' ( which should be true as we know more power = more fuel = more heat)

[jharkin]

My other concern is the one I elaborated on in the Protos Max thread in the gasser room. By eliminating the front frame he is making the engine a stressed member of the airframe and all the landing loads are passing through the fan case. I'm worried that we will see the cracked case problems again.

[rbort]

(actually this is a good questions for people who have flown both RC and PUH formats- do PUH feel snappier and recover better?)

There is no discernible difference in recovery that you can really tell. In fact I think the other way, the more mass on the fan the more smoother the engine is, the mass takes away from the pulse shock wave, and the heli tends to be smoother.

Cut the fan down and not only will you add some heat due to less cooling but you will make the motor less smooth. May not be much, but its there allright.

And I agree, maybe some cases will begin to crack when the motor case is part of the helicopter airframe. Only time will tell, give me one of those to test (not saying that I want one) and I can find out for sure for you in short order.

-=>Raja.

[goof2]

I don't know of this idea will work or not , but it's great that people are trying to improve the performance.