What happens when a Piper Apache gets parked too close to an RV on a secluded ramp?
Perhaps a “TwinJAG”, a creation of “Jim And Ginger” Tomaszewski of Clayton Georgia.
The airplane started life as an RV-6A and flew as such for nine years before Jim decided to break out the Sawzall and convert the single to a twin.
As it now sits, the airplane sports twin Corvair aircraft engines of 120 HP each, Sensenich ground adjustable propellers with manual air stop, an increased wing span of one additional rib bay, 54 gal fuel capacity, an RV-9 vertical stab and rudder and a “chopped” RV-10 nose gear assembly.
According to the owner, the aircraft performs almost exactly like the original single did across the performance spectrum and he advertises a cruise speed of 175mph on 13gph essentially trading increased fuel burn for additional thrust redundancy with a large dose of coolness factor thrown in.
Somewhere a proud Apache has a twinkle in its landing light.
Absolutely gorgeous. Can’t wait to see in person.
He should build them for the training market
Certainly cheaper than the $1M Diamonds, et alia
No info on engine-out performance?
My guess would be between “None” and “Abysmal.”
Without some ability to stay in the air on one, I don’t get it. Just gives twice the chance of losing an engine.
Love to find out I’m wrong…
Ron, there’s a video on youtube where the builder states his single engine climb is 200-300 feet per minute. The video also lists other performance numbers. I like his statement that a twin always has a better glide ratio than a single with one engine out.
Here’s the video link:
https://youtu.be/GIMVkTk26fw