Information Request regarding R. Mcconaghy’s stirling powered airplane.

[thomas haysParticipant @thomashays48759]

I am researching closed cycle aircraft propulsion as a part of my PhD dissertation. I have found R. Mcconaghy's technical publications regarding his stirling powered airplane, and I have also found a reference to this magazine indicating an article about that engine and airplane was published in 1990. Can anyone assist me in finding that article?

[ "Model Engineer" 14 February 1990, pg. 234 ]

is all the citation says referencing this magazine. Apparently there is a picture of his son holding the airplane.

Digital images of the article, references to an archive with that article…. anything would be helpful. There's not much documentation for what I think is the first flight of a closed cycle airplane. I don't think anyone previous flew fully closed cycle (Bessler wasn't fully closed)

thank you for your help!

T.Hays

[thomas haysParticipant @thomashays48759]

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Hello Thomas,

Do you have more to go on? The nearest issue of ME is 16 Feb 1990 and the index suggests feature content stopped at Page 233. Unfortunately it's a major excavation for me to find my issues from 1990… hopefully someone with a copy handy will be along in a moment.

I have a vague memory of the article.

Perhaps you could contact him directly as he appears to be on Linked In.

Neil

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Index (colin Usher's) seems to show a 2 page article 234 & 5 " Hot air aero engine" not in my collection though Issue 4011 also looks like a few pages in Issue 4009

Thomas, if you open the index that covers 1990  here then search for the guys name you will get the two hits that I list above.

 

J

Edited By JasonB on 07/10/2014 20:54:23

Edited By JasonB on 07/10/2014 20:57:50

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I don't have any copies but I can provide index info for "McConaghy"

162,3842,154,Hot Air,Stateside Hot Air. Stirling Engine models seen at the I.E.C.E.C.,,M.R.Fox,"The 23rd Intersociety
Energy Conversion Engineering Conference. Aero Stirling proved, Rob McConaghy's Stirling engine and aircraft, power
increases"

167,3908,532,Hot Air Matters,Hot Air Stateside,,Mick Fox,"Reports on the proceedings of the 25th Intersociety Energy
Conversion Engineering Conference. High spots, Dr. Jim Senft's Stirling engine, Rob McConaghy's model aircraft engine
a 6cc Gamm Ringbom-Stirling, picture on page 487"

168,3916,266,Exhibition,Model Engineer and Modelling Exhibition. Class Reports. Class A1 Hot Air Engines),,David
Ayres,"Judge David Ayers checking Rob McConaghy's hot air engine, Mike Syme's hot air engined traction engine, hot air
engine powered hacksaw machine"

176,4009,81,Hot Air,A Hot Aero Engine,1,Rob McConaghy (USA),"Details his successful hot air engine powering a model
aircraft. General considerations, engine layout, propellers and power measurements, engine construction, references,
picture on page 71"

176,4011,234,Hot Air,A Hot Aero Engine,2,Rob McConaghy (USA),"Drive mechanism, heat exchanger tubes and
regenerator, hot cap and displacer dome, nickel brazing, heater head, seals, performance, the airframe, references"

 

The centre number 176,4011,234 etc is the Magazine number

gl

Edited By Ady1 on 07/10/2014 21:05:41

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Thomas, you may have Andy Ross's book "Making Stirling Engines", McConaghy's aero engine is mentioned on P 45/47. An interesting method of heating is mentioned-molten aluminium. As with other engines in this book, not a lot of detail (2 photos). The book is a free down load if you don't have it.

Ian S C

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Thomas

Having the Model Engineer issues listed by Ady1 easily accessible I've had a look at the relevant pages. The last two references from volume 176 issues 4009 and 4011 are most informative giving outline details of the engine construction and some performance data. The first reference from volume 162 issue 3852 gives a little detail but apparently nothing that isnt covered in the volume 172 articles. The other two references are basically mentions in passing with no technical detail.

PM me if you'd like scans.

Regards.

Clive

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Thomas, the Model Engineer that you want is Vol 176 number 4009 and 4011. the year is 1996. "Engine: stirling hot air for model aeroplane".

There are drawings, and photos, including one of his son holding the aircraft.

Ian S C

[thomas haysParticipant @thomashays48759]

Thank you all so much!

Ian, I have in fact tracked down Andy Ross's book. He has recently started offering it as a free PDF download.

Clive, thank you so much for looking into this. I will PM you right now.

Everyone else, thanks for helping. It is much appreciated. I hope to create a Wikipedia page about the stirling airplane and link it up properly so that others will know about what I think is the first stirling engine powered airplane. Such an achievement should get more attention.

Best regards,

T. Hays.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Thomas

No problem to E-Mail scans but I'll need you to PM me an E-Mail address. This site hides the source addresses.

Clive

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Thanks Thomas,

Please post a link here when the Wiklipedia page goes live.

Neil

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Andy Ross's book went free on line somewhere about 4 1/2 to 5 years ago, I know because it was a few months before the first of the Canterbury earthquakes, because Mark Smith 3 did the the copy for me, and the earthquake put him out of action(one day he might come back, he was quite keen on hot air engines).

Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 09/10/2014 09:41:20

[Martin WParticipant @martinw]

Hi

There is a free PDF book here by Andy Ross with some references to a model areo engine. I don't know whether this is the one Ian was referring to.

Cheers

Martin

PS

I suspect that this may be the same PDF book as the one you have have already found Thomas.

Edited By Martin W on 09/10/2014 10:14:39

[Karen McCabeParticipant @karenmccabe]

Hi, I came across this post and I am also looking for volume 176, issues 4009 and 4011. Would you be so kind as to scan them and send them to me? Thanks!

Posted by Clive Foster on 08/10/2014 12:14:56:

Thomas

Having the Model Engineer issues listed by Ady1 easily accessible I've had a look at the relevant pages. The last two references from volume 176 issues 4009 and 4011 are most informative giving outline details of the engine construction and some performance data. The first reference from volume 162 issue 3852 gives a little detail but apparently nothing that isnt covered in the volume 172 articles. The other two references are basically mentions in passing with no technical detail.

PM me if you'd like scans.

Regards.

Clive

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