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Message
Greetings,
Bernie's comments are very much in line with my own thinking for the
RV-8. The RV-3 was a fun project, and I learned a lot of new skills along
the way. For the sake of the project, it was well worthwhile. I'm
very much looking forward to getting the single rotor flying as well, after some
further learning (gear/belt drive construction). The alternate engine
installation is is a great hobby, but that doesn't necessarily make it the
most practical choice at this point in time.
The
hard reality is that 99% of the population doesn't trust anything but
a certified type engine. We've all heard stories of
failures, but they still go round, and round the pattern every single day
of the year. In the past 15 years in my current location, I can name two
trainers that have gone down with engine problems. One
was on a maint test flight following rebuild, and they went in the
bay. There was some justice with that one, because the mechanic was on
board :-) The other was during a rental, and I never heard what was found
as the cause.
Whether you want to admit it or not, a well
maintained certified type engine is light years ahead in
reliability. Remember, while we're working on ours,
tinkering, modifying, etc, they're going round, and round, and round the
pattern without problems, day in, day out.
Does
this mean we should just pay whatever the cost is for a "real" airplane
engine? Well that depends on your goal. If you want the current best
chance of success, and something that can be serviced at any airport in the
world, then yes it does. If you want something different, and are willing
to bet your life on a good challenge, then by all means, roll your own engine
installation. It's only natural to think you can do better than the
standard, and for engineering types, it's a known disease :-) There are
some really NICE installations ongoing now, and they may very well beat the
odds, but don't think Lycoming is going to feel threatened any time soon
:-)
Better
go watch some Olympics, before I get myself in any more trouble
:-)
Rusty
(not always
popular)
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