Engine component weight reduction

[Duane_Rhynard]

Yeah. Nobody ever dies in a car.

Bob,

I'm with you! My wife attained her private pilots license about 2 years ago and her complex and high performance endorsements last year. She has accumulated 300 hours of flying time so far.

If you calculate the risk by number of miles, flying is much safer than driving and your and odds are much better. (See link to USA Today below).

That being said, as you are well aware, there is much more responsibility associated with general aviation aircraft, as most accidents are attributed to pilot error. Weather, pre-flight checks, fuel supply, pilot condition, proper maintenance, etc, all play a part in safety. I feel much safer flying than I do driving because I know the aircraft is correctly maintained and serviced, and my pilot is trained, qualified and certified!

Additionally, we don't have to worry too much about the "old lady" pulling out in front of us! :tennis:

Thanks,
Duane
Bonanza S-35

Edit: Just to make sure I'm still on topic, I replaced my oil filter on my BN6 with a spin on system with additional cleaning magnets and saved 0.3 LBS!!


https://traveltips.usatoday.com/air-travel-safer-car-travel-1581.html

 

[Michael Oritt]

Bob--

You said: "yeah nobody ever dies in a car".

No doubt you're right and I am sorry my comment started this diversion from the original topic, but there is something about the thought of an airplane's falling out of the sky and crashing to the ground that gets more attention than an auto accident. The risk I run of contracting a food-borne illness is no doubt greater than being eaten by a Great White but I prefer to watch Shark Week rather than a PSA about safe food handling.

I'll add that my friends and family think I court death every time a participate in my chosen hobby of Vintage Racing, yet the most dangerous part of a race is when I am driving to and from the track on public roads.

 

[steveg]

...
Additionally, we don't have to worry too much about the "old lady" pulling out in front of us! :tennis:

Maybe not an old lady, but flying here in southern California feels like being in a shooting gallery. Last time I flew to Catalina, a Cessna missed us by a couple of hundred feet over south LA. My buddy who was piloting didn't see it and I doubt the other pilot saw us.

My earlier comment was intended to stress there are almost no fender-benders in aviation, though Bob your posting about landing on the dirt road surely qualifies.

Duane, that's disingenuous comparing the risks in commercial aviation to those in general aviation.

I also apologize for doing my part to divert the discussion from Healeys.

 

[dougie]

Maybe not an old lady, but flying here in southern California feels like being in a shooting gallery. Last time I flew to Catalina, a Cessna missed us by a couple of hundred feet over south LA. My buddy who was piloting didn't see it and I doubt the other pilot saw us.

My earlier comment was intended to stress there are almost no fender-benders in aviation, though Bob your posting about landing on the dirt road surely qualifies.

Duane, that's disingenuous comparing the risks in commercial aviation to those in general aviation.

I also apologize for doing my part to divert the discussion from Healeys.

Oh boy, this thread's gone way off track.

How about a 9.5 lbs flywheel.....

 

[steveg]

Beautiful. How about the clutch that goes with it?

 

[Bob_Spidell]

Throw my apology in the barrel, as I largely instigated the diversion. It didn't belong in this thread; however, I think you can make a connection between general aviation and owning/driving an ancient vehicle without any of the 'safety'* enhancements that modern cars have. You are indeed 'spam in a can' in a Healey.

* Further diversion: When people refer to 'safety'--especially when applied to motor vehicles--I cringe. There is no such thing as a 'safe' car--I'm looking at you, Volvo and Subaru--as you will never be entirely 'safe' when moving in any vehicle at speed--nor are you 100% 'safe' when sitting on your couch, for that matter--but, obviously, newer cars are significantly more crash-worthy than our old tubs (I often say the only 'safety' device in a Healey is an alert and skilled driver). I think our civilization is the worse for the contemporary notion that modern cars are 'safe' which, I think, contributes to the notion that it is 'safe' to make phone calls, text, watch TV and so on whilst driving a car.

 

[dougie]

Beautiful. How about the clutch that goes with it?

Ok, it's pretty lite too, but it needs to be to off-set the Super Damper up front.

 

[steveg]

Is that a DMD oil pan?

 

[dougie]

Yes

 

[Bob_Spidell]

Ok, it's pretty lite too, but it needs to be to off-set the Super Damper up front.

Is this because the Super Damper is lighter than a stock one, or another reason?

 

[dougie]

I prefer the Tilton 7.25 twin plate clutch for it's strength and weight reduction on the vintage racer. Really has nothing to do with the Super Damper.

 

[Michael Oritt]

I think when Dougie used the term "offset" he was comparing attractive, utilitarian appearance of the two parts, not weight on the ends of the crank. In any case that is a beautiful engine and while nothing should be used for mere glitz there is a certain esthetic that is inherent in top-end race components and most vintage racers take pride in their cars' presentation, especially when seen from behind.

I too use the Tilton annular clutch on all three of my race cars though I only use a single plate as none has the power of a Healey Big Six. The rotational weight saving over a conventional clutch, either spring or diaphragm, is substantial. They are long wearing and I have yet to break one.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

One last comment on the aircraft vs. car discussion, and I'll give it a rest: When I started flying, I began to be more precise in my driving (the two can/will reinforce each other). For instance, you have to stay between/behind the lines on the ground until you are allowed to cross them, or you can lose your ticket (pilot's license) instantly. If one inch of your aircraft--wingtip, spinner, anything--crosses a 'hold short' line by a runway, you could be in serious trouble. Because of this, I picked up the habit of making a full stop behind the white 'hold short' line present at most corners on roads--or the crosswalk in some cases--before creeping forward for a better view, and it prevents me from making a 'California stop.' It galls the **** out of me to see (most) drivers dive bomb a corner, with the intent of rolling through a stopsign or light, only to end up with the nose of the car sticking out halfway into the lane when they finally spot oncoming traffic. You also pick up the habit of watching all your gauges constantly, known as 'instrument scan' in aviation.

You also acquire an intense understanding of 'energy management.' In an aircraft, of course, you have to manage gravity as well as power and momentum, but you have the latter two--and some gravity, on hills or grades--present in a car. I get told fairly regularly that my "brake lights aren't working" because I don't drive full bore at the red light three blocks ahead of me. Maybe that's why I have over 130K miles on my Mustang's brakes (with plenty of 'meat' still left on the pads). Oh, and 'situational awareness' ... I could go on for hours.

 

[twas_brillig]

Two minor thoughts:
1 - a big attraction of the Forum is the opportunity to look at old guy porn: that flywheel is BEEYOOTIFUL!
2 - all 'transportation devices' (planes and trains and feet and bicycles etc.) are different, with different charachteristics. Even in my advanced years I can beat most cars through the first two lanes when the light goes green and I'm on my bicycle, as most cars are automatic, and the automobile driver will have to take his foot off the brake and move it to the accelerator. When the light goes green, a pedestrian/cyclist/motorcyclist doesn't have that time lag and can be moving forward immediately. Too many car/whatever owners aren't aware of this simple fact of life/death, and will be hitting the crosswalk at the same time as the pedestrian (or bicycle beside him) is moving into the intersection as his light has gone green. Calgary has got delays on a lot of the lights, such that there is a pause after the green goes red before the crossing light goes green. No editorializing here; just an observation. And it was only a few years back that my brain realized that I and my motorcycle will be entering that intersection before any car will - irrespective of my hp - just because my feet handle the brakes at the stop, and my hands initiate the acceleration - there's not change-over.
But I'm really here just for the automotive old guy porn...
Doug