BeechTalk - BT - Raptor Aircraft 5 Seat Pressurized 3,600 NM Range Diesel

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Oct 2020, 20:04

Username Protected wrote:

Who said anything about a pitot/static leak?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Oct 2020, 20:15

And I thought post maintenance flights were something to worry about :bugeye:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Oct 2020, 21:26

Username Protected wrote:

And based on those temperatures, he has to have zero airflow around that engine. He needs to figure that out before he even cranks it again.

With the way the tuner set-up the engine and the clueless design of the staged turbos, no amount of arctic air is going to be capable of keeping the engine from melting. The exhaust valves are likely already damaged. He’d get about a 20% increase in hp if he just went back to the stock Audi tune and turbo. Of course he needs two with that power to give The Great White Whale adequate propulsion.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Oct 2020, 22:55

Username Protected wrote:

At what point do you stop for a proper re-think? :scratch:

About 2 years ago? :shrug:

There are videos of industry experts helping him out. I remember one guy had been an engineer at Scaled. I wonder what happened to all those people? Did he run them off?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Oct 2020, 23:03

Username Protected wrote:

I had heart palpations watching that. Holy crap. All I could think of was Dead man walking.

I will give him credit for being honest. He admitted he did not have the cabin door locked, just hooked. If it had come open at lift off, with very little runway remaining... This would be a very different discussion.

I don't know what his coolant pressure was, but if it has a 30 psi pop-off, the WWII fighters hit that at around 120C, 250F. Once that happens, its a short ride. The temps never stabilized until he was below 5 gph fuel flow. At 120 kts, with the gear down and the power reduced the temps were still marching upward. He was literally moments away from popping off. I doubt he could have finished the circuit back to 17 without blowing the cooling system. Putting the gear up is not going to fix his cooling issue. He is not even close to having the cooling he needs. The cooling system needs a redesign before he flies again.

He said he might find another pilot. Any pilot willing to fly that airplane, without major cooling system upgrades, after watching his video, is totally unqualified to fly that airplane.

Cooling system upgrades?

Any pilot willing to fly that airplane, without additional major aerodynamic wind tunnel testing, is totally unqualified to fly any airplane.

That thing is not only unable to maintain a rate of climb at near sea level at full power with minimal fuel and passengers, but so damn unstable I'm not surprised he put it back down as fast as he could.

Got the rest of his money released I guess.

No way this ever makes it into production. If he figures out the cooling system issue the powerplant might be a viable diesel experimental alternative, (redrive aside) but the whole thing is pretty much toast at this point.

He's got cojones, I'll give him that.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Oct 2020, 23:10

It is worth noting that there was nobody there to greet him back to the hangar...
If it was me, I would have had some friends around to celebrate.... ( or call 911...)

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Oct 2020, 23:22

Username Protected wrote:

If it was me, I would have had some friends around to celebrate.... ( or call 911...)

But having people watching increases the pressure to go through with it despite what your inner voice is telling you. And the tower will call 911 at least as quickly as any friend, if it comes to that.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Oct 2020, 23:27

I think after they got the model to fly one time without the Dutch roll, he started building the prototype. With all the things he has changed, I don’t think he has done a single analysis on it. Now, he gets to see the results of those missteps.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Oct 2020, 23:54

Lots of people keep acting like or suggesting that this is all about getting the Ernest money released. I hope Peter does not prove me wrong on this in the coming days. Here is what I will say I do think Peter is an honest guy. I don't feel like he is trying to swindle anyone. He has been more transparent with his failures and successes than any builder I know. Years ago I considered putting in a deposit so I looked at the details closely. As I remember it the money was to be released not just after the first flight but after the performance specs were verified or at least established by an actual flight. Then each deposit holder would be able to make a choice over a set period of time it might have said 2 weeks or a month I can't remember. During that time they could choose to get their deposit back or know that on X date their money was going to be released to Peter. I don't think Peter is asking to have that money released because he took it half way around the pattern and got it back on the ground. Like I say I do feel like he has been about as open and transparent as you can be. I think he is an honest guy who is just way over his head at this point. I don't see him stealing anyone's money. Again I hope he does not prove me wrong on this, time will tell.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 09 Oct 2020, 00:50

What the hell is his external camera mounted on? You would normally expect the aircraft to be stable in the frame no matter what's happening to it because camera is rigidly attached to the plane, but in this video the plane bounces all over the frame... :scratch:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 09 Oct 2020, 01:05

Username Protected wrote:

What the hell is his external camera mounted on? You would normally expect the aircraft to be stable in the frame no matter what's happening to it because camera is rigidly attached to the plane, but in this video the plane bounces all over the frame... :scratch:

Yuri, it’s a gyro stabilized camera. It stays relatively upright while the plane moves around it, like the AI. You can see the background stays pretty stabile in the frame.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 09 Oct 2020, 06:18

Here’s a guy who’s extremely grandiose, believing he can design and build an airframe/engine combination that’s never been tried before and obtain such amazing results as 3600 nm range at 300 knots on 5 gph (or whatever it was). He posts everything for the world to see, collecting compliments and fans who encourage him. When criticized, he lashes out. When his first “flight” verifies everything the critics have said, he doubles down.

Has anyone considered the possibility that he has a narcissistic personality disorder and shouldn’t have a Class 3 Medical?