Date:         Wed, 17 Mar 2004 22:46:26 -0600
Reply-To:     Stan Wilder <wilden1-1@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stan Wilder <wilden1-1@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: User friendly fuels (was you fixed it..)
Comments: To: tom ring <taring@TARING.ORG>
In-Reply-To:  <4058CD79.10888.57975701@localhost>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Yes, turbines have 3 of the most important of the requirements locked.
power/weight, cooling not needed (though high temp alloys are), low
maintenance
when compared to reciprocating engines.
------------------Clip ----------
Back in the 60s Chrysler had about 200 Turbo Cars driving around the US.
One friend of mine worked at a Dodge / Chrysler dealership and I saw several
of these cars on a regular basis.
Although they were on the road as real transportation there wasn't any way
you could stand next to the cars or sit behind one when they were running.
They just put out too much heat when they weren't moving at reasonable
speeds.
Additionally I have some US Navy aircraft flight deck experience and the
noise, dirty exhaust, stink and lots of unburned fuel vapors pretty much
limit use of turbines.
Even the small turbines used to turn generators and compressors for
emergency aircraft starts produced so much heat and stink that the surplus
turbines never found any civilian uses after they finished their military
use.

Stan Wilder