Re: oilheads-digest V1 #54

[Steve Makohin <wateredg@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 1/9/04 12:00 PM, rennsport@xxxxxxxxx rennsport@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

>On Thursday, Jan 8, 2004, at 09:55 US/Eastern, Edward Begley wrote:
>
>> I'm an aircraft mechanic where engines have to be reliable.  
>> Interestly they still have air cooled opposed engines with
>> pushrods a foot long or more
>
>What rpm do those engines turn, 3000? There is no need for overhead 
>cams and such.

Yup, around 2700 RPM for a piston single is considered to be "ear 
splitting" revving. But just as a "data point", GA (General Aviation) 
aircraft have not evolved anywhere nearly as rapidly as automobiles have, 
not because there wasn't a need or a use, but because of the extreme 
rigors through which GA manufacturers have to go to introduce a change of 
virtually any sort. The certification process is extremely rigorous and 
expensive. This explains why "FADEC" is a turn-of-the-21st-Century 
buzzword in GA, "Fully Automated Digital Electronic Control" (commonly 
known as "Fuel Injection" in cars and bikes). It has only begun to appear 
in significant numbers in GA in the past few years.

As Edward Begley, an aircraft mechanic, will tell you, GA aircraft are 
optimized to be reliable, and to reduce risk failure. Big, pushrod, air 
cooled, "old tech" engines can be extremely reliable.


Aside, and some light pilot humor: Would you fly an airplane if it was 
built by Harley-Davidson? ;-)

- -Steve

 Oakville, Ontario, Canada
 2000 R1100S/ABS, Mandarin

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