VW Aircraft engines - Tell me about your experiences

[thisadviceisworthles]

I think I have found the airplane I want to build, but what is keeping me from pulling the trigger is the engine.

After a bit of reading, no plane has caught my attention like the Thatcher CX-5. I have inquired about plans, but the thing that is keeping me from ordering them is the VW conversion engine.

I am a 75 hour student pilot (waiting for a check ride) that has never flown in a plane (pilot or otherwise) that wasn't a Cessna (with the exception of airline flights). I don't come from an aviation family, in fact I was 30 before I flew in a plane that wasn't operated by a 121. So for me, the most difficult parts of learning to fly are scheduling time with the professionals I need, paying for it, and understanding risk well enough to make informed, safe choices.

This post is about the third part. I don't feel that at 75 hours it would be safe for me to fly an auto conversion, but I expect the build to take years, and I don't want to dismiss a plane that is what I want otherwise, because I don't understand the risks, or what my own risk tolerance will be.

I have dismissed many auto conversions, but the thing that keeps me from completely dismissing VWs is that there were aviation certified VW engines (Limbach), and that leads me to wonder if engines like the Revmaster are closer to the Continental Titans than they are to the Eggenfeller Subarus.

What are your experiences with VW engines?

[CarlOrton]

Your mileage may vary! How handy are you? Motorhead at heart? Can you follow written directions? If so, I see no problem with it.

I built an AeroConversions engine in 2011 for my Sonex. AeroConversions is the engine side of the Sonex LLC. Well thought-out kit. I had some friends that bought the turbo, but they had problems with it. That was years ago; I would ignorantly assume they improved upon it by now. Stick with the steel cylinders. When I bought my kit, they offered nik-a-sil cylinders if bought during Convention. All of us who did ultimately had to replace 'em. Warped, welded to the heads, etc. The basic engine package is pretty mature.

Great Plains VW conversions may or may not still exist. The original owner retired, but I thought I heard somewhere that the brand continues. RevMaster is another VW brand that I have not heard bad things about.

As with most homebuilt projects, even if using something like an O-200, cooling air / baffles / carb mixture / etc are the big things to get set up properly.

I sold the Sonex in 2015; my wife would not fly with me (a bit too cramped).

[thisadviceisworthles]

The CX-5 is specifically designed around an 85HP Revmaster, that is why I specifically mentioned that one. But I would consider any VW if it had advantages over the Revmaster. (I do not plan on choosing a turbo option.)

[Frank Giger]

I really like my direct drive 1915cc VW turning a 62" prop. Electronic ignition, dead simple maintenance, and inexpensive to operate.

[Morrie Caudill]

I really like my direct drive 1915cc VW turning a 62" prop. Electronic ignition, dead simple maintenance, and inexpensive to operate.

My Aerovee came in a box, assembled like the book, and has 270 hours on it today. You didn't mention price but you can't beat this one. If you must rely on someone else to assemble your engine you will pay for it.

[1600vw]

I have sent two engines to Hummel Engines. One needed every interal part replaced and he got it as a basket case. The other had to have a complete case replaced along with bearings. Both times I spent around 2500 dilivered. I even sent Scott the paint and he painted these engines the color I wanted. He told me he has never painted an engine purple. The first engine I put around 200 hours on it before selling the airplane and that engine was running great when I sold that airplane. The second is still in service with around 50 hours on it now. It is not broke in yet. If not for the vw, I would have stopped flying. Two strokes are not for me and GA engines are out of my price range. The vw fits perfect for what I want in an aviation engine.