http://www.flixxy.com/besler-steam-airplane.htm
http://www.rexresearch.com/besler/beslerst.htm
Here is a video and writeup of a steam engine used in an airplane in the 30s. weighed 500 lbs so I guess it is out for the Airbike or Maxes.

Absolutely facinating.....I wonder what became of it...?

Was it too expensive..? to develop further.

Did the oil companies buy it.... and squash it ?


regards Arthur

Fully agree with Arthur.... if anybody knows more about this project, let us know too!
Knut A

I have quite a bit of info on this aircraft.  The Besler brothers were pilots and hired an aviation training school in Oakland, CA to install one of their steam units in a Travel Air Biplane.   It was flown a few times and the engine was removed and shipped overseas as a traction engine.   The steam unit condensed all the steam it made and the aircraft was  very quite.  It could also go into beta mode (by reverse rotation) for rapid descent or braking.  The articles I have say that the pilot could shout and be heard by people on the ground during low passes.

I will try to attach a file about it.

Vince Homer

Here's a photo of the aircraft

Here's the engine installation without the condenser.

Interesting!
Phil

the Kansas Aviation Museum in Wichita, Kansas has a four cylinder radial steam engine that was used in an airplane in Kansas in 1915.  It was built by a Hutchinson, Kansas man.  The engine swung an 8' prop and burned a mixture of kerosene and crude oil.  Unfortunately the museum has no  photos of the plane that used the engine.  If anyone knows anything about  this which could be added to our  museum we would appreciate it.  Contact communications@kansasaviationmuseum.org

Paul Fiebich

Yes man....back to basic.
Hope you bright people can share with us what you have about steam engines for airplanes. Sterling engines for planes too.
Knut A

Wow 2 reconditioned antiques in one picture!!!!

Smart ass!

Well, Avenger and Paul. I guess I am going leave the shop and head for the house laughing.
Thank you both, LOL.
Bob

No problem both I and Paul enjoy giving you guys a good laugh... You know a steam powered plane wouldn't probably be that bad except the fire in a wood plane. but water would take the place of fuel. the only actual extra weight might be the engine and the propane tank.  No starter, no electrics, not a lot of oil from the looks of the video only real problem is the steam coming back would have to make sure the wood was realll sealed.  

The engine is heavy
Fire is hot
Water is heavier than gasoline

Bill,
I think you may have found the perfect solution to your lack of cabin heat!!!

Chris

Engine might not have to be that heavy... might be about the same as a full VW.  Let me think back to last winter..... you were in a coat, a ski outfit and a sweater while we flew .... I was in a light jacket... I love my enclosed canopy... I get that nice solar heat...greenhouse effect.  10 gallons of water in my plane would still be less then the 15 gallons of gas in yours...a couple cans of propane shouldn't weigh that much... the burner could be made from a hot water heater..... but you might be right... my toes might be a bit warm in the summer.

Already available as a kitplane:https://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/Aircraft/Henson-Flyingmachine.html

This is a little more power than a Himax needs, but it's an example of what's being built now:

Cyclone Power Technologies Ships Engine Model
For Land Speed Record Steam Car
POMPANO BEACH, FL, Feb. 3, 2010. Cyclone Power Technologies Inc. (Pink Sheets: CYPW) has completed and shipped a full scale model of the engine it is building for the U.S. Land Steam Record Team. The high performance Cyclone LSR Engine will power the streamliner vehicle which will attempt to break the world land speed record for steam vehicles in Bonneville, UT, as early as August of this year.        

The Cyclone LSR Engine is a modified Mark V heat-regenerative external combustion engine, capable of producing 180 HP with maximum starting torque of 850 ft/lbs and 262 ft/lbs @ 3600 RPM.  It boasts an expanded steam generator to create greater surface area and water rate, which will dramatically increase power output, while keeping the engine's total weight below 200lbs. Steam car veteran and team leader Chuk Williams will design, build and drive the U.S. Land Steam Record (USLSR) vehicle, which will attempt a 200mph record-breaking run.    

"This project is moving ahead diligently," stated Cyclone CEO and engine inventor, Harry Schoell. "We see the LSR application as a great test of the power and performance of our all-fuel capable, earth friendly Mark V automotive engine."

The LSR project is being endorsed by the Steam Automobile Club of America, the pre-eminent association of steam vehicle developers, racers and enthusiasts. Other individuals associated with the team include former engineers at NASA, Lockheed Martin and MIT.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for corporations and individuals who want to participate in this attempt at automotive racing history. Potential corporate sponsors may include providers of U.S. grown biofuels to power the USLSR vehicle - the Cyclone Engine is capable of running on virtually any fuel, and the team has yet to choose a fuel for the record attempt. Visit the USLSR site for more information: http://landspeedrecord.intuitw.....p;   
    
CORPORATE PROFILE
Cyclone Power Technologies is the developer of the award-winning Cyclone Engine - an eco-friendly external combustion engine with the power and versatility to run everything from portable electric generators and garden equipment to cars, trucks and locomotives. Invented by company founder and CEO Harry Schoell, the patented Cyclone Engine is a modern day steam engine, ingeniously designed to achieve high thermal efficiencies through a compact heat-regenerative process, and to run on virtually any fuel - including bio-diesels, syngas or solar - while emitting fewer greenhouse gases and irritating pollutants into the air.  Currently in its late stages of development, the Cyclone Engine was recognized by Popular Science Magazine as the Invention of the Year for 2008, and was presented with the Society of Automotive Engineers' AEI Tech Award in 2006 and 2008.  Additionally, Cyclone was recently named Environmental Business of the Year by the Broward County Environmental Protection Department.  For more information, visit http://www.cyclonepower.com.


Vince Homer

Vince..
...this is interesting news, So now it is to develope and build a Cyclone Engine at about 45-50 hp and lighten the construction to about 87 lb, which is similar to a half VW.
It might be possible...!
Put that engine in Paul's AirBike and he don't need his smoke system anymore....LOL
Knut A

Cylcone has a 30 HP version that they are using on a generator.  Don't know how much it weighs or if the HP could be bumped up to 40 or so.  If it scales linearly a 40 hp version would only weight about 45 lbs.  That doesn't usually work that way, but if it weighed twice that, or 80 lbs, there would still be weight left for the condenser without which the range would be short.  A good number to use is 8-10 lbs of water per hour per HP.  So, a 40 HP engine would go through 400 lbs of water in an hour without a condenser.

You could even have a steamboat whistle to announce your arrival!

Vince Homer

Vince, what's neat about this engine is it is a closed water system.  No big tank.  I would love to get some pricing for these engines.  I also noticed they are all verticle shaft, I don't think you can rotate them to horizontal but maybe I'm wrong.

I sent an email to Cyclone asking about the availability of their engines, if they can be operated
with the crankshaft in the horizontal position and if the HP rating could be increased by lengthening the cut-off.

It will be interesting to see if this is just a few prototypes or if they are really in the engine business.

I did look at their fuel consumption and it's about the same as a 2 cycle.  The advantage is that you could burn
fuel oil, kerosene or jet fuel in a pinch.  I suspect you could even go green and burn used vegetable oil if it
was sufficiently filtered.  Imagine your airplane exhaust smelling like french fries!

Vince Homer

Now we will have the possibility to create a stelth AirBike to chase the Huns.....!
No noise...and the french fries smell!
They will be so confused, that they won't understand what brought them down.

Vince, this is very interesting, tell us when you get the answer on your questions.
Knut A

I got a reply back from Cyclone:

Thank you for your interest in our technology.  At this time the Cyclone engine needs to operate with a vertical shaft due to the combustion chamber design.  Remember, it is possible to put a pinion gear at the end of the shaft to change direction.  Plus the engines can be put on a line shaft for a congregation of units for more power.

We have several size engines ranging in size. The Mark V 100 Hp can be detuned to operate at less Hp.  The Mark II is being redesigned to be a 6 cylinder self starting engine,  the original Mark II needed a starter motor.

Cyclone is an R & D center and we manufacture for production of our licensees.  The current product to hit the retail market will be the Waste Heat Engine with several supercritical engines following.  The date for release from the licensee has not been announced.  The cost is up to the manufacturers.

Looks like we shouldn't hold our breath waiting for one of these to hit the market, especially with our market being so small.  Just have to build our own.

Vince Homer

Quoted from Knut A Now we will have the possibility to create a stelth AirBike to chase the Huns.....! No noise...and the french fries smell! They will be so confused, that they won't understand what brought them down. Vince, this is very interesting, tell us when you get the answer on your questions. Knut A

Huns got paranoid once they smelled french fries!
Phil