I want to ask about Ducted Fan technology, given the recent marketplace entry of a couple of new aircraft, the PJ-2 Dreamer and the UL-39 Albi, both featuring ducted fan propulsion powered by piston engines.
Firstly, what is the scope for development of this technology? What are its limitations?
Nextly, is there any other parlance for this type of aircraft? Pseudo-jets? Quasi-jets? Jet-like? (Anything to help my Google-searching)
So there is Electric Ducted Fan technology, which has developed under the r/c model and drone market.
But with PJ-2 and UL-39 we now see the advent of piston-powered Ducted Fan propulsion -- the key being that reciprocating piston engines are allowable under LSA regulations, whereas turbines are not.
One problem seems to be in power-to-weight, given that you need a powerful piston engine and gear transmission to bring the fans up to useful rpm.
What are the ways to solve these problems, while still falling under LSA restrictions?
Firstly, what is the scope for development of this technology? What are its limitations?
Nextly, is there any other parlance for this type of aircraft? Pseudo-jets? Quasi-jets? Jet-like? (Anything to help my Google-searching)
So there is Electric Ducted Fan technology, which has developed under the r/c model and drone market.
But with PJ-2 and UL-39 we now see the advent of piston-powered Ducted Fan propulsion -- the key being that reciprocating piston engines are allowable under LSA regulations, whereas turbines are not.
One problem seems to be in power-to-weight, given that you need a powerful piston engine and gear transmission to bring the fans up to useful rpm.
What are the ways to solve these problems, while still falling under LSA restrictions?
