The use of auto engines in aircraft is not a new idea. Aviators have been installing auto engines into aircraft for a 100 years, starting with the engines from the model T to the present Chevy LS2/LS7 engine. During World War II the best of the high altitude fighter aircraft were liquid cooled and supercharged approaching 2000HP. Other similar characteristic now found on the LS2/LS7 were "V" type configuration with sodium filled valves. These high performance WWII liquid cooled engines passed on many new advancements to the then evolving liquid cooled auto industry. After WWII the commercial aviation industry embraced the concept of air cooled engines and has maintained the same designs with dual magnetos to the present date. In parallel one can observe the auto industry over 50 years evolving and advancing the liquid cooled engine both in performance and high volume production. Today one will find auto engines available, like the 366-427 Cu. In. LS2/LS7 from Chevrolet, to be in high production (millions) and utilizing modern features such as a computerized distributorless ignition as a standard feature. The end result is that one can observe the aviation industry producing thousands of 300-350 HP air cooled engines designed in the 1940’s costing $50,000-$70,000. In comparison a person will find the auto industry producing millions of a modern 350-450HP auto engine in the price range. of $5000-$6000. In conclusion, the idea of installing an auto engine in an experimental aircraft has been a popular notion, and for the past 30 years these aircraft have been growing in numbers. There are too many experimental builders converting auto engines to mention, both on the professional and amateur level. The best resources to read about these flying auto engine conversions are in the Contact Magazine books or the EAA and Kitplane magazine archives.

Just some interesting info to add to our knowledge database...

 

plane.

 

I whant one

 

I love anything with wings!

 

That's gotta be one of the worst photo-chops I've ever seen! Interesting tech info, though.

 

All I did was throw a little Vette emblem on it for laughs...


WTF??

It was the 'tech info' you were supposed to look at Homer.


You wanna see Photoshop stuff you know where to look.


Couple of pages back- "Photoshop and Vettes"

YEEEEEEHAAAAWWWW kiss my Grandma

 

Yea, reminds me of the ole TNT movies....nice

 

info

 

SWEET! I had heard of this but this would be the first I got to read of it and see one!

Thanks,Matt