I spent some time adding TBO and other improvements

to:http://www.rotaryeng.net/**Rotor-v-Piston.html<http://www.rotaryeng.net/Rotor-v-Piston.html
 on the web site. Have a look.

 Paul Lamar


Regarding the rotary vs. piston comparison:

Not to be contentious, but I would be interested in precise costs of
firewall forward  installs.  Not the pie in the sky stuff about an
experienced rotary enthusiast turning a junkyard motor into a 2000 hr. TBO
fire breather, but the actual costs.

Don't get me wrong, I am a HUGE fan of the rotary,  It is superior in every
way, and I am determined to fly behind one someday, but we always talk about
how cheap it CAN be, rather that what folks are actually spending.  We may
find that the cost advantage is greatly diminished for truly airworthy
motors.  And no fair omitting the amount of time spent working on it.  A
person's time is not worthless.  An engineer taking time away from an
$80/hr. job is spending just as much for maintenance as the guy paying and
A&P to work on his Lycosaur.

"Just the facts Ma'am."  (Dragnet)

Chris Cosman

Well if you walk into your local Mazda dealer and order a brand new engine
it is $5800. From there all the way down to a gift that cost zero :)

I think the average person is spending about $3500 for an over hauled
engine.

Paul Lamar


I have a page that details my FF cost on my website.  Basically, $17k
including the prop and a backup engine.