Engine selection question?

[DBeaulieu]

Has anyone considered powering a Patrol with the UL Power 520 engine? I think that typically a builder should go with what the designer suggests (and in this case that would be some form of the -360 engine) - but, those engines are getting harder to find and reasonable cost and time factors keep increasing. Thoughts and inputs appreciated!

Dave

[Nev]

By all accounts they are a very capable and lightweight engine with a respectable power to weight ratio. I like that they have temperature and altitude compensation built in. The engine mount might be a challenge for the first installation.

[Utah-Jay]

Gonna likely be a CG issue with the lighter weight. I talked to Mark about engine options, the response was along the lines of we would love to see you do it. Someone has to be the pioneer, but it was not gonna be me

[Mark Goldberg]

A customer building a 4 place BH in Poland has already built an engine mount and hung a UL 520 on his fuselage.. Not a Patrol but someone is doing it on 4 place. Mark

[DBeaulieu]

I imagine the engine mount would be a bit longer to offset the weight reduction WRT a O-360 variant and the longer cowl might be an issue with visual line of sight during taxi maybe? The UL Power maintenance guy at Kaolin Aviation doesn't think it would be an issue to create a proper mount once he had some specs on datum and CG range for the Patrol. Guess I should order the plans and start looking at things while I wait on my Q/B kit...

[zkelley2]

The only thing I've ever disliked about those engines is their marketing. They rate them at 3300rpm. I think they put 2800 numbers now, but before you'd have to ask for a dyno chart to see what it's actually going to make at a speed a prop can spin.

[DBeaulieu]

I learned this week that UL Power make an engine base plate that will accept a Dynafocal mount. Also an adaptor of different lengths to obtain F/W distance as requried for CG. Makes that 180 Hp UL520 a bit more enticing...

[Sir Newton]

IMHO, a Patrol with UL520T @220hp is would be the bees knees.. ya know imho
Ser# 444 is mine. oh yes !
Do not let Fear & Common sense hold you back :-)

[flyboy]

A couple of weeks ago a local pilot flying his Rans S21 with the UL 520T had the crankshaft break in two. It had about 50 hrs on it. The cause is being investigated.