Original Posted By: "Jack Phillips"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Great Plains VW conversionAlthough I flew for four years behind an 1835 cc Great Plains kit engine I was never very comfortable with it turning 3,100 rpm at cruise and knowing that if I gotthe prop too slow on final (wood core, carbon fiber encapsulated) it didn't have enough inertia to keep the engine running, especially with the high compressionof that engine so you had to use vigilance in that regard. Still a good engine overall (if built up correctly according to the book by Steve Bennett) but just never feltcomfortable in my gut flying behind it.Sure was a blast to fly the Corby Starlet though. Like a little fighter jet with a prop and you couldn't ask for better fuel economy. Premium auto fuel, 120 mph cruiseat 3.5 gph.Roundtrip from Cleveland to Chicago was 3 hours each way (6 hours by car) and only cost $50 roundtrip at the time. (3 years ago)Mike C.________________________________________________________________________________