Look at Van's Blather here.

I think someone lost their meds today...


"Newps" wrote in message . ..
: Any chance there's a point to this drivel?
:
:
:
:
: Bret Ludwig wrote:
:
:
:
: Introduction - Powerplant Choices
:
: RV aircraft are designed to use Lycoming aircraft engines.
:
: The RV-4 and RV-6/6A use 150/160 hp 0-320 or 180 hp 0-360 engines.
: The RV-7/7A and RV-8/8A can accommodate O-320, O-360 or angle valve
: IO-360 (200 hp) engines. The RV-9/9A is suitable for Lycoming engines
: in the 118 hp to 160 hp range. The engine used in the 4-place RV-10 is
: the Lycoming IO-540D4A5 rated at 260 hp. Van's recommendation for the 4
: place includes any of the parallel valve 540's which are available from
: 235hp on up to the 260hp version. These engines are the most readily
: available, affordable, and reliable of the possible choices. Other
: aircraft engines of similar configuration, weight and power might
: possibly be used, but only the Lycoming will fit the mounts and cowls
: supplied with our kits.
:
: Van's volume allows us to buy appropriate models of new engines at
: O.E.M. (Original Equipment Manufacturer) prices direct from Lycoming.
: We market these engines to our customers at far less than list price.
: This makes them an affordable alternative, even when compared to the
: traditional used engine. Van's has similar arrangements with Hartzell
: Propeller, Sensenich Propeller and other manufacturers.
: Other Engines
:
: We are often asked about using non-aircraft engine conversions. We'd
: like to pass along a quote from a colleague in the homebuilt airplane
: business:
: "the best conversion I know is to take $8000 and convert it into a
: good used Lycoming." This may sound a bit narrow-minded, but it
: reflects the basic truth: no non-aircraft engine has yet proven to be
: as reliable, available, and inexpensive (everything considered) as a
: traditional aircraft engine.
:
: It seems that magazines are always printing stories about automobile
: engines bought for junkyard prices, mated to inexpensive reduction
: drives and flown off into the sunset. It simply doesn't work like
: that in the real world. The reliability we have come to expect from
: aircraft engines is the result of years of development and refinement
: of engines designed specifically for the task. Automobile engines
: function well in their intended application: delivering low cruising
: power in vehicles with well designed transmissions and power trains.
: Using them successfully in an airplane requires continuous high power
: outputs and reduction systems coupled to the propeller. This is
: completely foreign to their design intent. (You can imagine the car
: engine designer banging his head slowly against his desk..."no, no, no.
: If I'd known you wanted to do that with it, I would have designed
: something different....)
:
: (Why are Lycomings never found in boats, fire pumps, gensets or other
: high output and often life-critical applications? They are less
: reliable intrinsically than commodity powerplants, and secondarily
: ridiculously priced.)
:
: With enough research and development effort, auto engines may be made
: to work acceptably or even well in an airplane. We are not opposed, in
: principle, to RV builders using alternate engines, but we would hope
: that this choice is made on facts, not hopes or dreams. Do you want to
: spend your time and effort on engine development or do you want to fly
: confidently behind an engine that has already been developed?
:
: (Using that logic why should I spend more money to build your
: noncertified, and presumably intrinsically uncertificatable by design,
: airframe when less will buy me a PROVEN, certificated aircraft? )
:
:
: We, too, would like to see "something better" in available powerplants.
: We are carefully watching some alternatives. Meanwhile, the proven
: Lycomings do the job very well and are the best "available now" option.
: Despite the many claims and promises made by promoters, we feel that if
: you will look closely at what is actually available, how many are
: really flying, and how well they really perform, you will agree with
: our conclusions.
:
: (Not "you may" agree, "YOU WILL". Ja wohl Mein Führer! With all due
: disrespect, Dick, I don't think you really would like to see any other
: powerplant succeed because one, you have a sweetheart deal with
: Lycoming, and two, you want your RVs to be alike as production aircraft
: to fluff resale and insurability without the bother of type
: certification and production. This is called "the tragedy of the
: commons" or "why buy the cow if all those heifers will come to you for
: you to milk the living daylights out of and they will buy you breakfast
: too".)
:
: While we are not opposed to RV builders installing alternate engines,
: we simply cannot recommend or encourage the installation of any other
: engine - we don't feel it would best serve the interest or safety of
: the builder.
:
: (It wouldn't serve OUR interest.)
: