Dear Paul,
   Your excellent article in/ Kit Planes/ on rotary vs. piston power
plants has sold me on using an RX-8 engine in my project.  I'm building
a BD-4, metal wing/tail dragger version, in which the major item lacking
is the engine and prop (plus a million and one small items).  I was
planning on trying to find a used 0-360 Lycoming, but your article plus
Steve Ellis' on the dangers of used aircraft engines, has changed my mind.
   A question:  do all Mazda RX-8 engines have the improved fuel burn
efficiency you mentioned?  If not, what manufacture date is this feature
to be found?
   I have always been interested in a rotary engine because of its low
weight but didn't like its poor gas mileage, since my flying will be
mostly long distance x-country.
   Thanks for your attention to my inquiries.
   Sincerely,
   Bob Cousar

Not yet. I was referring to recent Mazda R&D results.
The current engine is only about 5% worse than an aircraft
engine. However it will burn mogas which is a 25% savings.

Sue Ann said you did not want to be on the list anymore:)
(running for cover :)) Just make a folder and drag all
the rotary emails to that and drop them in.


Paul Lamar