Flying backwards

Yes Paul, I'm a full-size aircraft engineer, I know all that.

You have to forgive him. Paul simply can not conceive of anyone knowing as much let alone more than he does. Sure would be a stupid world if that were really the case.

"David Williams" wrote in message news:417a6bfe@212.67.96.135...

Another interesting story about wind and flying:

Wind, Sand and Stars Antoine de St. Exupery

"Paul McIntosh" wrote in message news:...

The magneto's control system is not part of the aircraft's electrical system. It is entirely independent of any other electrical systems and is not connected to them in any way. The airplane's battery, alternator or generator, and all the rest of any other system can be shut down without any effect on the engine. Magnetos do come in pairs. The last aircraft engine I'm aware of that had only one mag was the 40 HP Continental of the 1930s. The governments forced two mags on the industry because of the critical nature of ignition and the propensity of mags to quit without warning. Carburetors, on the other hand, seldom give any serious trouble. Diesels are now being built for aircraft and a number are flying. Diamond has a certified light twin using two diesels, and it recently flew NONSTOP across the Atlantic. SMA and Thielert of Europe are building these engines, and others are getting into the act, too. Thielerts are flying in Cessna 172s, and SMAs are flying in 182s and others. Until now diesels were too heavy for most aircraft applications, because of the strength needed to deal with the high pressures involved, but new alloys make it possible. The Germans had a few diesels flying in WWII but they weren't very successful. Diesels also rely on the heat of compression for ignition, and at high altitudes there is too little latent heat in the air for it. Turbocharging or supercharging fixed that.

Dan