Ron Patrick is Mechanical Engineer that has no problem with jamming jets into tiny vehicles, so that’s what he did. One modified turboshaft engine, one VW Bug, one sweet Rocket Powered VW Beetle. This was covered years ago by many a blog, but we’re gonna revive it just to get in some process love with the bits designed in SolidWorks and imagine what this guy is working on next.
The engine is impressive…
A GE Model T58-8F helicopter turboshaft engine, converted to jet. Weighs only 300 lbm. Spins up to 26,000 rpm/13,000 rpm idle. Four rows of variable inlets/stators, 11 compressor stages, 2 turbine stages with a pressure ratio is 8.3:1 and whips out 1350 HP.
but the process for the instrument panel alone…
The aluminum panel was designed in SolidWorks and cut out of billet, bead blasted, clear anodized, and then the labels for the switches were milled into the front using a font matching the VW cluster. Little details like the holes having flat sides so the switches don’t spin and exactly matching the contour of the dash added time to the project. Several versions were made out of Styrofoam first to get the layout and lighting right.
and what happens when he drives it around…
A police officer [picked] at his nose while trying to figure out what to charge me with… We were rooting for him and offered suggestions but unfortunately, the California Department of Motor Vehicles did not anticipate such a vehicle, so he was out of luck… the car has two engines, making the car a hybrid so maybe we can drive in the commuter lanes along with the Toyota Priuses.
His other project…
This car is screamin’ for a flame job. Read more on the Rocket Powered VW Beetle.
Giant Hat tip to Charles Culp whose gaze can power 5 VW’s simultaneously.
