Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

Have a Fuji 43EI gasser that I need to mount to a Falcon 120. Building this as a prop-pusher and will eventually swap the gasser for a turbine.

My issue is how to mount the Fuji to the Falcon? The engine mount on the falcon is meant for a glow engine installation and not a firewall installation like the gassers. Anyone done this before and can send pictures or details on the best way to go about it?

Thanks in advance
John

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

John, With all the threads I'v seen about the Falcon 120, and also looking at mine, I have never seen this done. Don't know if you could get enough lead in the nose to accomplish this. Sell your Fuji and get a Moki 180. Good luck with whatever you come up with!!

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

I saw one person talking about doing it, but never saw the finished product.

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

A big aluminum "L" would do it. Then you need a big chunk of steel in the nose. Find an os 1.60.

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

:D

[sm=thumbs_up.gif][sm=thumbs_up.gif][sm=thumbs_up.gif]

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

The rear cantilever section of the fus does not have any internal support its only supported by the glassfibre skin of the fus, a Fuji would rip it straight off the back, would be an interesting first flight, but rather short I think. ;)

Mike

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

The smaller Chinese Bobcats are the same, my rear fuse was already cracked when I bought this one crashed.

Unbelievably the designers put a great lump of heavy wood in the rear 'shelf' area to bolt the engine to but it stops where the shelf stops, there is no overlap into the fuselage.

This was my solution, a bit agricultural but it works.

And it looks great from the top! - John.

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

Do you think the weight is the issue or the thrust? The weight is just over a pound more and the thrust (based on the prop I will be using) is the same as a JetJoe I had on a previous Falcon.

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

Well I can perfectly see why you are wanting to go gas after the JJ. :D but get you a OS or Moki 160/180 and be grey hairs ahead of the game!! I think a Saito 180 would be a good match. Prop wise. Just don't want to deal with the P-factor on a model like this.

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

Actually I had great luck with the JJ - I guess I was one of the lucky ones.

Got the gasser to run on the falcon till I can get another turbine, and then slap the fuji on a small YAK or something. Also wanted to go gasser as I wanted smoke on the falcon, and you can't get real good smoke on a GLOW engine.

The plane is designed for a prop engine, so I would hope they designed it with p-factor in mind. I guess I can do a little more research on the others that have pusher props on this model to see if p-factor is a big issue.

I guess only time will tell. If it doesn't fly right, I will have to put a turbine on it sooner than I planned.

Looks like some bottom re-inforcement and a good "L" bracket will at least let me get here in the air and see how it goes.

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

Where did you get the bottom brackets?

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

Neither I think the issue will be the vibration and the loading on a not so perfect landing, I drilled a 11mm hole through from the back into the inside area of the fus and Hysoled in a 10mm carbon rod along the root internal rib, the problem with the bottom brackets in the Falcon is they have nothing to attach too.

Mike

EDIT: Canterlever should be 1/3 out 2/3's in i.e. if the overhang is 50mm the inside support should go internally by 100mm.

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

Happen to have a picture of that?

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

Yes I do, its already on the Falcon 120 thread, but I don't have it to hand at the moment as its 2400 in the UK at the moment, will not be back on line until Wednesday, but look early in the Falcon thread and you will find it.

Mike

EDIT: 93 for the wheel well and 97 for the rear cantilever support.

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

The weight of the engine is a problem. There is not enough structure at the rear fuse. You can beef it up as many have done for turbine applications, but with a gasoline engine it will be heavy and will be a dog due to insufficient rpm.

Joe

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

I made them from some aluminium angle, cut & filed away what I did not need. - John.

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

The fuji is only slightly heavier than a turbine, and it spins at 11K - its the highest reving gasser - that why I picked it. I guess I just need to finish it and get her in the air and she how it performs.

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

You will have to to beef up the rear fuse more than what would be required for a turbine. One big difference will be all the vibration of a gasoline engine. Good luck with your project.

Joe

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

i make some C/F stiffeners for the falcon ...there are pics of them on RCG in the flacon EDf thread ...but the alum home made ones are cheaper

RE: Mounting Engine to Falcon 120 (Bobcat Copy)
 

Big thing here is vibration it will soon loosen everything up and shake its self off the back
Also what about prop clearance