----- Original Message -----
From: John Slade <sladerj@bellsouth.net>
Date: Monday, August 30, 2004 9:21 pm
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Mistral Engines for sale

> Message > wondering if Mistral ever consulted any
marketing people
> I think you'll find that Mistral is targeting the
certified market. No
> intelligent businessman would target us. :)
>
> They have a better product with a 50% higher
(proposed) TBO and
> (probably)lower maintenance costs. They don't need
to undercut
> Lycoming, and probably
> shouldn't go that route. It'll take time, but if
they prove and
> certifytheir product, and have the financing to
stay the course,
> they could do well
> with the current pricing.
> John
>
>

John Dyke got a deal for Delta builders for one of
the Lyc knockoffs.  XPO, I think, is the name of the
company.  A brand new IO-360 for $16,500. I have
doubts that he is the only designer that was offered
this deal.

Mistral's website glosses over the cooling issue and
doesn't even mention the need to add two-cycle oil
or how they're going to oil the housing.  

You can pay an exhobitant price and pick the
problems that everyone has learned to live with.
You just bolt the engine to the place that was
designed for it. OR you can pay a ridiculous price
and deal with brand new issues that'll require you
learn some aerodynamic and mechanical engineering.

Except for a few extremely rich folks, the people
who would deal with all the issues would most likely
not blink at rebuilding a junkyard block or two.  If
you're going to have to get your hands dirty anyway,
you might as well save $20K or so.

Now if Mistral could put their engine on a couple
Reno racers and win a few like Mazda has done in the
cars they might see a few converts.