I admire the work but it’s not for me.

Yawn.  Done, and done to death.  What's the matter, no one knows how to adapt a hydrogen fuel cell to a classic?

VW = Voltage Wagon

Nos681 wrote:

VW = Voltage Wagon

Lol

I'm too old to change. I am a dinosaur. My motto is "Resist change at all costs!" And I am simply not interested in any electric powered vehicles, regardless of the design, workmanship, etc. Just not for me. My only experience with electric vehicles was at work. Baggage tugs, pushback tugs and small electric carts. Whenever the damned things would stop working, we always had the old reliable gas or diesel powered rigs to tow them out of the way or back to the hangar to recharge or repair.

6sally6 wrote:

I hope there are charging stations in the jungles & deserts because the US military is going all electric in OUR life time.
Brilliant .........
6sally6

Actually...that may help.  I would suspect that could force more $$$ being fed into hydrogen research which will find it's way into the private sector.  I don't have a big problem with electric drive train.  It's the power source (batteries) that I think is stupid.  Hydrogen JUST may be the answer, maybe. 

Last edited by Bullet Bob (4/30/2023 7:07 PM)

Some reading I did on hydrogen says the technology is there for it to work.  The problem holding it up from widespread use is a reliable connection when fueling the vehicle. They haven’t quite gotten that figured out.

The real issue with hydrogen is that it cuts into the bottom line of people like Elon Musk.  Its also not going to benefit China, as we have plenty of water and can make our own hydrogen here.  EVs use lithium which comes in large part from China.  This is what happens when they play politics with technology.  The few benefit enormously at the expense of the many. 

I've always been partial to the Allison V1710 myself.  In the US, contrary to popular belief, they never used actual Rolls Royce Merlin engines.  RR couldn't meet the production demands of US aircraft production, and the transportation risk and logistics precluded it anyway.  Therefore, US aircraft with the "Merlin" actually used a Packard V-1650, which was basically a Merlin built under contract.  However, Packard streamlined the design a bit, having extensive experience building V12 aircraft engines since the Liberator in WWI.  Packard also built the V-12 powerplants for the PT boats.  Sorry, I'm a bit of a WWII aircraft geek. 
 

That's AWESOME!

The first thing I ever restored was an AT6 Texan with my neighbor (who flew for United) starting when I was about 12.  We worked on it off and on for about 3 years until it was done.  That's where I learned how to take stuff apart, catalog it, take pictures (using real cameras), clean, blast, paint, and reassemble stuff.  Flying in that completed aircraft remains one of the most incredible experiences of my life.  I did get just a little stick time too (she was a trainer after all).

I never pursued a license, maybe when I retire.  Both my grandfathers were Navy pilots in the war, and my dad and both his brothers all flew.  We always had aircraft growing up, so I spent a lot of time in small airplanes and helicopters.  I could fly a fixed wing piston engine airplane in a pinch.  I never got the hang of the helicopter.  My dad had an incredible degree of hand/eye coordination that I simply lack.  He could fly, drive, or captain anything. 

LoveToFlyGuy wrote:

Rudi wrote:

Airplanes were my first obsession...

Mine too. I started down the road toward becoming a career pilot, but life happened and I ended up putting my training aside just short of earning my Private Pilot license back in 2005. I went back at it a couple of summers back, but found it too hard to schedule the trifecta - instructor, aircraft, and my own free time, all at the same time, but I'll get there eventually! I have my Student license, so I guess I technically qualify as a "certificated airman". Maybe.

As far back as I can remember, aircraft were always in my life. My dad was a WWII and Korean War pilot, and he flew for the airlines for 28 years. I joined the Navy and my rate was Aviation Electrician's Mate (later changed to Aviation Machinist's Mate in the reserves) I flew in the A-3 Skywarrior, P-2V Neptune and P-3 Orion aircraft. When I got out, I got my Private pilot's license and my A&P license. Flying became too expensive with a wife and kids, so I gave that up and spent then next 46 years turning wrenches on General aviation aircraft, helicopters, Boeing (747, 767) and 36 years at Alaska Airlines. I will admit I really loved helicopters. Got some of bootleg stick time on Hughes 300 and some Hughes 500 aircraft. A lot different than fixed wing aircraft for sure.
 

Last edited by Ron68 (5/05/2023 1:25 PM)