Altitude ceiling engine choices

Builders who plan to fly in mountains needing higher altitude should
consider their engine choices. Typical Lycoming low compression engines
have a limit of about 13,500 feet. You need higher compression engines
or turbocharging for higher altitudes. I tested my high compression
(10.5) Franklin 6A-350 to 18,000 legal VFR limit and quit - still was
doing about 200ft/min. A friend of mine with a 0-320 maxed out at
13,300.

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SQ2000 canard: http://www.abri.com/sq2000

"abripl" wrote in message
ups.com...
Builders who plan to fly in mountains needing higher altitude should
consider their engine choices. Typical Lycoming low compression engines
have a limit of about 13,500 feet. You need higher compression engines
or turbocharging for higher altitudes. I tested my high compression
(10.5) Franklin 6A-350 to 18,000 legal VFR limit and quit - still was
doing about 200ft/min. A friend of mine with a 0-320 maxed out at
13,300.

-----------------------------------------
SQ2000 canard: http://www.abri.com/sq2000


Yes, and consider the ignition source. The loss of one magneto, like the
loss of one engine in a twin, will decrease altitude performance
dramatically. In many cases, the remaining performance won't keep you above
terrain. Been there, done that, have the new seat cushion to prove it.

Bill Daniels

Some of the LOM engines are supercharged in their stock form. I
suspect they would provide good high altitude performance, but don't
have any data to back that up.

Anybody fly one of their boosted engines up high yet?

-Matt