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To all who care to listen,
We have all seen articles and heard stories of
Darus Zehrback and he notorious "run-in" with the law. Let me first say I
have no vested interest in Zehrback's company. The truth is that it
is quite possible that I will be installing the Walter in my IVP and I
have begun the turbine modifications in anticipation for a 601E
installation. I, for one, do not have all the facts in the case however
the information I do have suggests the case has little or no
reflection on his products. I have met Darus, I have spoken with
him dozens of times and I have seen his MAGNIFICENT engine, the TIIV
650. I predict, if he is allowed to complete the last few Lancair IV
specific loose ends this engine could ALTER THE LANCAIR IV WORLD AS WE KNOW
IT.
I promised Darus I would try keep
my mouth shut and I always try to do as I promise but perhaps certain
members of this group should not be so quick to judge. Currently
the TIIV 650 is being installed on the first IVP. I have spoken
with man who is building this aircraft and it is not the
first Zarhrback engine he has purchased. Very soon this aircraft
will be flying followed by a second not far behind. I have seen the Dyno
results, done by independent testers and if I were an engine manufacturer - any
manufacturer including Walter - currently supplying engines for the IV's I would
be watching very closely.
I have visited Zehrback's modest (to say the
least) facility in WV along with 3 other people much more experienced in
engine development than myself. All agree that this engine
is the most advanced reciprocating aircraft engine they have
seen. There is little doubt, with this engine the
IV could easily reach its Mach limits in level flight well into the
flight levels. Personally there
are cenerns about trusting the lives of my family and friends in an
unproven engine - any engine. I do have concerns about Darus's ability to
bring this engine to full scale production not to mention the ability to
get replacement parts. As with any "creator" is sometimes difficult
to let go of our creations enough to allow them to grow and achieve their full
potential.
I will not go into specifics of the design.
That is for Darus and his people to do. I am suggesting that we
should learn all the facts before we judge and decided what's right
for ourselves and perhaps prepare ourselves because, it just
may in fact be, that "change is in the air". Time will
tell.
best regards to all you fine Lancair
enthusiasts,
Joe Trepicone
If it does go into
Original Message -----
Zehrbach Sentencing Moved to September
4
Sentencing for Darus Zehrbach,
president of aircraft engine converter Zehrbach/LPE, is set for September 4 at
8:30 a.m. EDT at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West
Virginia at Clarksburg.
Zehrbach...
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