Glen Morgan
Glen Morgan is from New Zealand
Hi Chris,
I've been following your very useful and helpful website for
quite a while. I have an Aircamper which I did not build, though I've done a bit
of work on it from time to time. I'm the third owner, though technically it has
had four owners as there have been two builders. The bulk of the project was
finished by Don Palmer with a fair bit of input from the father and son team of
Alan and Evan Belworthy. The Belworthies are the go-to people here if you need
practical advice when you have a project under way. They have also produced and
built successful designs of their own and one of the earliest Aircamper builds
in New Zealand came out of their stable. Evan is also a pretty prolific test
pilot and mentor of homebuilt projects
My Aircamper got pretty badly lacerated recently in a weather
event that carried away our hanger, so it was Alan and Evan, In particular, to
the rescue with parts and help. I should also acknowledge Evan's wife, Penny,
too. She mucks in and helps and knows her way around homebuilt aircraft. (And my
wife, Carol, who supports my various engine development projects and flies in
JQN with me.) It was a good opportunity for me to expand my skills too. Anyhow,
the Aircamper (ZK JQN) is back in the air and flying very well.
My main reason for contacting you is the endless debate on
websites about automotive conversions. JQN has a Toyota light truck motor in it
and flies and climbs pretty well. No reduction drive is needed as light truck
motors and equivalent fork truck motors have healthy torque in the 2800 to 3000
rpm range. Hard to get here, Gasoline four cylinder GM fork truck motors are
cheap and available to you guys. It surprises me that no one seems to be getting
into using these motors in Aircampers. I'd love to get my grubby little hands on
one of those GM motors!
There are two other Aircampers with light truck motors here in
the South Island of New Zealand, both flying reliably and well and I am aware of
one using a Mitsubishi four cylinder motor in the States. Without a starter
motor and with a light weight Kubota small tractor alternator this type of motor
comes in at a very similar weight to a Model A motor.
They hand prop easily, plugs last forever and they don't need
Avgas. The Japanese motors that we have experience with actually don't like
Avgas and premium grade fuel isn't necessary either. Having said that, your fuel
grades in the States are, I understand, graded a little differently from what we
have here. Stick with the engine manufacturer's recommendation is probably the
best approach.
Cooling is always a bone of contention too. I have flown in a
modern four cylinder powered Aircamper with the traditional, small high-mounted
radiator and it works great and look authentic. JQN has a much bigger radiator
mounted behind the engine. It too works well.
As part of JQN's return to service, I made a biggish spinner
for her.
It's tidied up the front end and improved her looks. I have
some skills in the alloy forming area of endeavor and intend to replace the
cowling with something a little more in the style of the early Avro Avian
aircraft, which I admire greatly.
Hopefully, some pics of JQN will come through with this email.
PS I'm the older pilot in the silver helmet. Evan is wearing a traditional
leather flying helmet.
Kind regards
Glen Morgan