X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:46:04 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from smtpoutwbe07.prod.mesa1.secureserver.net ([208.109.78.209] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.3.9) with SMTP id 4495751 for lml@lancaironline.net; Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:14:35 -0400 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=208.109.78.209; envelope-from=jsabot@oxforditconsult.com Received: (qmail 21509 invoked from network); 6 Oct 2010 21:14:00 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO localhost) (72.167.218.131) by smtpoutwbe07.prod.mesa1.secureserver.net with SMTP; 6 Oct 2010 21:14:00 -0000 Received: (qmail 22295 invoked by uid 99); 6 Oct 2010 21:14:00 -0000 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" X-Originating-IP: 69.0.30.180 User-Agent: Web-Based Email 5.2.33 X-Original-Message-Id: <20101006141400.a7dfe48c7bd3403c1872ee1bd38b3a19.897a7b6398.wbe@email03.secureserver.net> From: X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" Subject: Performance Engines X-Original-Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:14:00 -0700 Mime-Version: 1.0

I have read the posts on the unfortunate experiences builders hav= e had with their Performance Engines. Most of the time we hear all about th= ings when they go bad, so I thought I would relay to the group the outstanding experience I have had with my=20 engine builder and how nicely I was treated.

Back = in 2007 when I was looking for a 550 for my Legacy, I was considering Perfo= rmance Engines but elected to go with another shop, Corona Aircraft Engines= , (http://www.coronaengines.com/) because Stu told me that there was a 5 month backlog at Performance Eng= ines to get my engine built. Ben O'Con from Corona build me a beautiful hig= h performance 550 N with all the hardware and mods featured by the engines = built by Performance Engines: 10:1 pistons, reground camshaft, piston= s balanced to within a gram, polished ports, etc. It was built correctly wi= th the correct tolerances! It was delivered on time and for the price quote= d. Ben nearly ALWAYS answers either his office or cell phone and responds t= o my text messages, even on some Sundays (not sure this is too good for his= relationship with his wife and young son so I try to minimize the Sunday c= alls!)

In the time since my first flight in August, 2009 a few issues did arise: I= had an alternator failure, an oil leak from one of the through bolts holdi= ng the crank case sides together, and my starter adapter started to slip la= st month.

All of these = repairs were repair under warranty by Corona. Because I live in Connecticut= and Corona Aircraft Engines is in California, I was not able fly in for re= pairs. I pulled the alternator myself last summer and returned to Corona. T= hey turned it around in about 2 weeks. In addition to repairing it, B= en had it chromed as a way of compensating me for the shipping charges.&nbs= p;

Last winter when an = oil leak was traced to one of the through bolts at the base of a cylidner, = Corona covered the cost of having my A&P pull a the cylinder to find a = torn o-ring that was responsibile for the oil leak. Ben sent all parts need= ed and paid the invoice for the labor from my A&P. Finally, my starter = adapter, which began slipping in June, gave out in September. I pulled it m= yself, shipped it off to Ben, and it was back on the plane within 2 weeks. = Since this last issue was at least in part due to wear and my own over cran= king of the engine, it was agreed that I would to cover some of the cost of= the repair. I still am waiting for the bill from Ben, which he now says wi= ll never come!

This proj= ect was a large financial undertaking for me, as I imagine it is for most o= f you. After spending over $50,000 on an engine, it would have been difficu= lt for me to afford sinking an additional $25,000 (or more) to rebuild it a= year later. Or even worse....an inflight failure.

I consider myslef fortunate to have contra= cted with Corona to build my engine for me and to have someone like Ben O'C= on with whom to speak whenever I need support. Those of you who are now bui= lding their Lancairs and looking for an engine or those needing help with t= heir current engine should definitely consider giving Ben a call.

http://lancairlegacyn26xy.shu= tterfly.com/