On Tue, 2 Jun 2009 19:59:09 -0700 (PDT), Veeduber
wrote:

On Jun 2, 11:41*am, jan olieslagers
wrote:

Still, you asked for a 40-60 HP engine
and all and sundry came up with 80-100 hp ideas,
that's my concern now.
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Dear Jan,

Yes. That is always the case on the internet, where the reader must
sort the wheat from the chaff.

The thread originated with Stealth Pilot (an Australian) pointing out
the dearth of Volkswagen engines in his country or locale, leaving a
hole for LOW COST engines suitable for conversion to power-plants
suitable for use in home-built airplanes. He implied that a 40
horsepower engine would fill the needs of the home-builder, probably
because that is about all a converted VW is good for if you want an
acceptable mean-time before overhaul. I then jumped in and said this
problem was not unique to Australia but would soon be felt world-wide,
especially as more home-builders in S.E. Asia and China begin to
stretch their home-built wings, suggesting we should try to come up
with a solution in the form of an affordable engine in that power-
range.

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Seems the US market has a hole, indeed, between
the 30-40 HP range and 80HP upwards.
Europe has _some_ offer there,
but not too much and indeed each with its limitations.
And we badly want information about Asian offerings,
as you already pointed out before.

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Home-builders ere in the States are unlikely to feel there is a gap so
long as the Corvair remains in good supply. Nor is their a shortage
world-wide if we are willing to consider heavier, liquid-cooled
engines. Unfortunately such engines are best suited for larger
airframes or fairly complex biplanes, typically beyond the means of
most first-time home-builders, which lead to my wondering about what
engines might be available from TATA, the GM of India, or from the
sleeping tiger of Chinese industrial might. I feel it is important
for us to identify engines suitable for conversion and to do whatever
we can to facilitate grass-roots aviation in those countries.

-R.S.Hoover

bang on the money Bob.
Stealth Pilot