5 Car Engines Used To Power Airplanes

Here are the car engines listed in the video

GM LS3 aircraft engine
- Horspower = 400 HP
- Weight = 526 LBS
- Price = $33,000

AeroVee
- Horspower = 80 HP
- Weight = 160 LBS
- Price = $7,600

Corvair
- Horspower = 100 HP
- Weight = 205 LBS
- Price = $10,500

Aeromomentum
- Horspower = 85 HP
- Weight = 139 LBS
- Price = $7,495

Viking aircraft engine
- Horspower = 90 HP
- Weight = 159 LBS
- Price = $9,995

[v.e.]

Been working with/on Corvair boxer engines most of my life, as my mother owned a '64 turbocharged Corvair (badged as a Spyder). She loved that car and would tell anyone that asked she could take any Vette that tried her. lol She really enjoyed driving tha Corvair and got into Rallye racing and lucky me got to be her co-pilot/map reader. She did quite well, winning or placing in every event she drove in. I was always so proud to tell everyone that was my mother. I now own a '65 Corvair w/ one of the 140 HP engines that I've over-built for longevity. It has a roller valve train and the engine has been completely massaged (chamfering all edges and oil return passages, etc.) and fully balanced, both statically and dynamically, w/ all rod beams and crank throws being de-burred and polished and all rod/piston assemblies being weighed to within 0.1g. Haven't had it on any dyno, but at ~ 10:1 CR and a maxed out bore, I am certain its putting out an easy 180-200 HP, redlining at 8K RPMs. Although I feel confident I could turn it much faster, I am looking at longevity vs performance. As much as I would love to get into flying, especially w/ a Corvair engine, I just can't afford the cost of an airframe to attach it to, as a fixed-income person. So, I'll just drive the wheels off my convertible Corvair and consider myself blessed.

[NearlyNativeNursery]

Super video on this subject of auto engine for smaller planes. Diffidently the only way to go if you are on a budget, want a more reliable engine, want a quieter power plant, want to work on your engine yourself or want to lower fuel cost and consumption. there is absolutely to my knowledge any reason to want a certified aircraft manufacturers engine at the cost they offer them.and their lack of running hours before total over haul. My personal dream plane at this moment is the Just Aircraft Highlander with STOL conversion add ons with the Viking 180 Turbo.

[carsplease]

Man your videos are exactly what I was looking for, super informative, thoroughly researched, and you even leave the source company info in the video to research further. Great channel!

[SteampunkVaporyLounge]

Love your videos kid. It's fun we get to see you more now. Was kind of surprised to see no Subaru based engines.

[NoosaHeads]

My experience is that a well set up and well maintained US V8 will give extremely good service. Addition security things like dual ignition and a good "limp home" mode would make these engines almost as reliable as a Lycoming. Having said all that, if the main factor is reliability, Lycoming are impossible to beat (albeit at a very high price).

[izzyplusplusplus]

2 engines that are some of my favorite car engines in here. K20 Honda, and LS3 Chevy.

[birdhaus]

Love engines. I love aircraft. I love this video. Thank you sir.

[idolon]

As a Ground Dweller, I found this really interesting, informative, Thanks

[pappybo]

Mike, you just keep improving. Very good and very informative. Thanks for the info. It opens new avenues for engine options that are most welcome.

[SUPERSHANE]

It is hard to beat a LS3. Power and reliability.

[brandonblair]

An LS3, full of accessories is about 420-410lbs. They are incredibly light and compact relative to the engine displacement.

[randyrobertson]

Hey my brother, I've really started to get into the flying scene since I found your channel. Your videos are well edited and we'll produced and narrated. You provide a lot of very good information and with a great flare of entertainment. I've subbed and will be looking forward to all of your new videos. Thank you, Randy from Connecticut., ,👍

[ericknavas]

Love your videos I always learn something new

[WSQuest]

CHEERS FROM ATLANTA, GA.
Like always, you did an excellent job.
Thank you.

[andreleonard]

Well done Mike, excellent video. I learned a lot, thanks.

[borisbetkin]

would you briefly go indepth explain autoconversion engine: what stays, gets out, modified, etc?

[wildcoyote]

very interesting , i know something about airplane engines but i did not realize all of the different automotive engines they were using in aircraft now, i do like the idea of using Auto fuel rather than Avgas for a huge cost savings on operations

[PistonAvatarGuy]

Limbach Flugmotoren also does VW conversions, but they're available with liquid cooled heads. They look like very nicely made engines.

[tommyss]

Very good video, your best yet in my opinion! Thank you for all your hard work

[brentboswell]

Surprised no Subaru engines made this list...they were all the rage about 10 years ago. Flat config (just like most aviation engines). The complication was adding radiators...