One concern I have about this catagory is would it then absolve

judges

from

considering an auto conversion in judging for Grand Champion or

other

awards

with "conventional" aircraft. There are those who "have issues" with
conversions and would consider them a safety issue and therefore not
qualified to compete against a purebred.
I'd prefer not to see conversions get segregated at shows. If

anything

we are

doing more to embody the spirit of experimental aviation than the

quick

build

exactly to plans route that is so common today. There is nothing

wrong

with

the simplified kit planes; everyone has their own comfort level and
abilities.
Just my 2 cents.
...Chrissi

Well, at a penny for my thoughts, you would probably feel ripped off -

but

here goes
anyway. Trophies are cheap! and if you have enough attendance, I think

you

should
have as many categories that you can have eough planes in for it to be a
contest.
People like to get rewards, everyone needs a pat on the back once in a
while,
and happy people come back to your flyin next time. Things like auto
conversions,
plans built versus kits, glass versus metal - split them up if you have
enough
entries - Vance J

Thanks for the input, Vance

    Undoubtedly there are those who do not care to have their project judged
by those they feel are not qualified.  But, I agree that many folks would
participate with their auto conversions as long as they felt it was an Apple
vs Apple comparison.

 From the few inputs I have received thus far,  there does not appear to be
a very strong sentiment for having an Auto Conversion category in the EAA
Judging Handbook.  Don't know if that reflects the true feelings of most or
whether we simply don't have enough auto conversions to generate an
interest.

 Will continue to look for input from the list

Ed Anderson

I have said this many times before in the last ten years.
The rotary is unique and should NOT be lumped in with other
piston engine auto conversions. In some cases stock auto
piston engines are used and in other seemingly similar
auto piston engine conversions every part is changed for higher 
aircraft quality materials and methods of manufacturer. 
Cast iron crankshafts, cast pistons and powdered metal rods 
are replaced for example. In most cases even the  
block and heads are replaced. This works towards giving auto 
conversions a bad name in aircraft applications.

EngineAir would not think of parking their $100K liquid cooled V8 
powered airplanes on auto engine row.

In the case of the rotary nothing like this needs to be done.
Furthermore the achilles heel of the heavy duty piston engine
is the exhaust valve and of course rotary engines have no exhaust
valves. We need to start parking our rotary powered airplanes
by themselves, away from auto engine row and to stop referring to them
as auto engine conversions to emphasize the difference.

If somebody wants to get some plaques made up we can issue our own
best of show rotary engine powered aircraft.  I'll volunteer
as the judge :-)

Paul Lamar
 
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