I flew down to Troutdale Ore from Paine Filed yesterday, the engine ran without a hiccup- like always. When I shut down a gentleman ran up because he recognized the sound of a rotary. He stated that he had attempted to install two rotarys in aircraft but had never finished his project. He said he is the one who sold his 20 B to Tracy Crook and that is the engine in his RV-8. Anyone know his name? I didn't catch it at the time.

I'm still going through with the 0-320 and constant speed prop conversion on my RV-4, at least at this time. I'll take off my FWF installation, maybe P-port it and install it on some other aircraft in the future. It's not that my engine has ever given me trouble, I just don't want to feel like I'm a test pilot every time I fly. I' always waiting for the sword of Damocles to swing down on me, and it sort of takes the fun out of flying. But the Rotary that I have in my plane might make it into a stol aircraft in the future.

Brian Trubee

No doubt about it. A-O320 is more reliable. In part because most people do a leak down
check every year. If it fails the leak down check it is usually a leaking exhaust valve. You must
replace it as it could fail catastrophically and destroy the rest of the engine.  There is also
a lot less to go wrong.

I averaged 500 hours per exhaust valve on my O-470 and then it cost $1000 because it was a certified
air plane and engine.

Paul Lamar

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