Choosing the engine

Ah, the engine. That all important item at the pointy end that turns the big fan on the front. There seems to be lots of debate about engines when you look through the forums on the internet…. The dreaded internet. A wealth of misinformation in a lot of cases…

Anyways, we’ve been going back and forth between us on engines for some time, in the hopes that somebody, somewhere will do something about the prehistoric stuff out there by the time we need an engine. It doesn’t look like that’s going to be the case, so it looks like we’re stuck with the tried and true.

While there are some popular automotive conversions out there for the RV’s, like the Eggenfellner and Crossflow Subarus, I think we’re going to go with a regular Lycoming (or clone). While both companies converting the Subaru’s are doing a great job redefining experimental powerplants, there’s still two nagging problems. If it wasn’t for these, we’d definitely be buying us one. After all, I have one in my Subaru WRX that’s pushing 314HP at the wheels. That’s quite respectable considering that it’s four wheel drive and the losses involved through the drivetrain whatever they may be.

I’d like to point out that I’m not writing this to start another huge auto vs. aircraft engine debate. This is just my opinion, and like everyone else, I’m entitled to it. If you want a debate, search the archives of all the discussion forums. I’m certain this has been covered a thousand times or more!

So, the two nagging problems….

Nag number one is… What happens if I develop a problem with my engine a thousand miles from home, and land at a nearby airport. What A & P is going to help me fix it? Do I call the car dealership? Basically, you’re on your own. While I do agree that the auto engine (whatever it’s original manufacturer) will be a lot more reliable than a traditional aircraft engine, have more recent technological advancements, and have some form of decent engine management, someday, something might go wrong with it. Now, your miles from home, your wife is complaining about missing work tomorrow, and you didn’t pack your roll-away tool chest. You’re basically on your own. Maybe you could scrounge some tools from a shop on the field, but you have a lot of potential hassle. Now, the chances of this happening may be slim, but it still MIGHT happen. I know that with an aircraft engine that one day it WILL happen!

Nag number two is…. Resale value. When you sell on your beloved aircraft with an auto conversion, are you still going to give it it’s annual inspections? Every year? How easy is it going to be for the new owner to get an A & P to sign off on something he knows not a lot about? By installing an auto conversion, you’ve automatically limited the market to which you can pass along your pride and joy. Aircraft engines are expensive, and everybody knows it. This helps to prop up the price of your plane, unless the engine is run out, but even then, it’s still worth a fair amount of cash.

Anyways, enough of that…

So that’s settled then.. An aircraft engine it is… There are a few to choose from…. Lycosaurs, the new Jabiru 8 cyl, there’s even a turbine in the pipeline… Now a turbine would be cool, but it’s very new. Hmmm.. How about an Allison T63? It’d fit, but it’ll also add about two more years to the project.

While the Jabiru looks interesting, it seems to make it’s power higher up in the RPM range. It doesn’t look like it’ll take a hydraulic prop, a requirement for aerobatics.

So to fit our mission of not taking an eternity to install & debug in the first place, cross countries, some mild aerobatics, reparability in the field and resale, looks like we’re left with a Lycoming (or clone).

Now all we need to figure out is how to spend as little as possible for as much as possible. No mean feat. Bear with me, as I’m still researching our best options. I’ll post stuff here as I find out what’s what.

The contenders are…

Aerosport Power, a popular choice amongst homebuilders, particularly RV’s.

Mattituck TMX360, a reasonable price and with FADEC as an option.

Superior XP360. This caused a sensation when it first appeared, but the hype seems to have died down while the prices went up..

ECI’s Titan engine. I haven’t researched this one fully yet… More to come…