Mmmmmmmmmmm... (just for the sake of a nice conversation Bob) In the aircraft you have the option of landing safely in a farmer field, because engine do fail (I have 3 forced landing in the past 2 years due to broken engine) A continental Cessna engine as a 2000TBO (Total brought hours before overall, that should bring us to about 140K miles in a vanagon) It as a severe maintenance schedule (nothing compare to the average vanagon owner) Most of it's flying life, it's in the air cruising at 90-100 knots whit plenty of cold air. A pilot constantly monitor and adjust his engine (not the average westy owner) The only thing similar in comparison is the engine configuration (Flat 4 air-cooled engine) The Cessna engine will work hard on landing and take-off, not that much on climbing, so overall it will work had for 1/3 of it's life. The Vanagon will work hard all it's life!!!!!!!!!! So the Vanagon should have a more severe maintenance than the Cessna!!! (sadly, it is not the case). The Cessna is under powered, the Vanagon is too, that is another comparison!!! By the way, a Cessna engine as 2 separate ignition system!!!!! (2 plug per cylinder, a very big difference between the poor vanagon FI system) The average years of operation of a 150-152-172 Cessna is well over 25 years, well, the Vanagon too, that is another comparison (he he he) The very big difference between a Cessna and a Vanagon (Well, any other vehicle) is the very severe engine and mechanical maintenance, not the engine reliability at all. (it sucks) But your are right Bob, failure is not an option! I am sure you are one of the best engine rebuilt guy out there, I like the way you think!!!! And I will do business with you soon. Cheers, Ben (with 2700 flight houres) http://www3.sympatico.ca/huotx/engine1.htm |
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