REFLECTOR: Alternative Engines

[gstull at tampabay.rr.com]

I know this has been discussed many times, but alternative engines are not cheaper. The engineering and 1 off install in many cases exceeds what you could purchase a used Lycoming for. I applaud anyone attempting to use these alternative engines, but they are much more difficult and time consuming. I have read or spoken to people who have used them. I have never heard anyone say that the certified engines are so unreliable that they were installing an auto engine. With auto engines many times that is the case. They give up and install a certified engine. Auto engines aren't designed for extended high power output and don't do well with the power pulses driving a prop. A typical car engine loafes along at less then 20% power most of it's life. I've known people who have had RX7 auto's. The engines just don't seem to have the durability of a recip. One friend of mine was driving his home with 60,000 miles when the engine just quit. A rotor seal failed with no prior symptoms. With a 4 cyl engine, 1 bad cyl will not make the engine quit. Again without experimentation, we wouldn't be as far as we are with homebuilts. Be careful with an auto conversion, there are many people who have had bad experiences with them. Just my 2 cents from a crusty old A&P.
---- Chris Barber <cbarber at texasattorney.net> wrote: 
> With today's first flight using an alternative engine and then another chiming in that he too is using an alternative engine, I was wondering how prevalent alternative engines are in the Velocity community. I have always assumed Lyc and Connie's were so well established that I was pretty much the only one using an alternative. I know Al Getzen, like me is using a rotary....uh, but Al is actually flying.  I guess I have always figured everyone but me has the money to just cut a check for a new certified fire breather. 
> 
> I guess my head is so far in the alt eng community it seems more are attempting.....and with better product and the blessing of the Internet, succeeding. 
> 
> Just curious
> 
> Chris Barber
> Houston
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