Test of a new air engine
The winter is too long. I have bought air-engine for the boat, it is named Kolibri. The air-engine is of a tiller type; it has 2-cycle, 3 hp trimmer engine and 60-cm propeller. In summer I plan to use it with a 350 cm long, inflatable Timan kayak. The only way to test it now is the creation of an air-sled.
I am using a temporary wooden transom; after testing the air-engine on the water I will built a lighter, collapsible transom out of aluminum
With 3hp air engine the plastic sled could speed up to 40 km/hour on the ice, but on the snow the speed is much lower.
On the hard snow the air-sled is quite stable and easy to manage
On the bare ice the sled moves not stable and tends to rotate
The air-engine Kolibri is lightweight (9 kg only) and compact. Now I am waiting for the open water – the next test will be on a kayak.