Dummies Guide to Seagulls

I've not heard of the Aurora Aquajet but it sounds like a similar very bad idea to my Warrenjet. Two stroke air cooled. I can't really see how it can be efficient, the impeller runs at engine speed and is quite small. Unless the JLO engine runs at very high revs (it hasn't managed that yet) then I'm not sure how much thrust there will be.

The very helpful chap at Saving Old Seagulls has helped me with bits for the carb but I think I could hear him giggling in the background.

Fun though...
 
We had an Aurora Aquajet in the mid fifties, the prop faced downwards and sucked water up to be expelled through a backwards facing nozzle. Early attempt at a jet drive. it didn't work in any way, as I remember.

It may not have worked but it might be worth something now and I bet a museum would like it.

We've got a British Anzani outboard in the garage, tried everything over the years but can't get it to fire.
 
Reminds me of a really funny incident on the shore at Stone sailing club some years ago.
Dave Selby- Those that read PBO will know the name- had a rather dodgy Jack Russel ( forget the name) that was always barking & biting people. Dave got himself into the dinghy & shoved off. He pulled the started cord & the end flicked the rear end of the dog, which was standing with front paws on the bow.
The dog did not take kindly to being flicked up the rear & promptly attacked Dave who spent some time drifting down river trying to detach the dog from his elbow.
Every time Dave tried to start the Seagull the dog went for him.

Dave's dog is called Bart. Met Dave at SIBS a couple of years ago and had a good chat whilst waiting for the bridge to open. He hadn't brought Bart for safety reasons.
 
A propeller loses a lot of thrust off the blade tips, hence the Kort Nozzle, so a prop in a housing might be more efficient. I often thought for a small drive having a ring on the blade tips should convey some advantage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducted_propeller

Jet drives rely on high revs and enclosed impellers.

Hence ducted fan props' on relatively slow aircraft - it would have worked on the Optica if someone had understood the difference between ' stall resistant ' and ' stall proof ' :rolleyes:
 
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