...this was originally posted in the VAF Yahoo Group by "dannylsmith" <dsmit132 'at' bellsouth.net> . Duplicated here...
Last year at Oshkosh I sat down with Mahlon Russell and discussed all
the options available from Mattituck and decided to order a TMX IOF-
360 with the Red Gold package. It's their premier offering and one I
think results in a great engine for my RV-7A. The engine is built to
the very highest standards available anywhere and with the FADEC it
brings the Lycoming 360 into the 21st century much like the auto
engines we all drive today. Yes I know the basic engine is much like
it was 50 years ago but the TMX does have a bunch of improvements in
it. I have a Whirlwind 200RV on order and expect this setup to be
pretty smooth.
The other thing I did was to go to Mattituck and watch John Haas
build my engine. John is a real engine pro and knows how to build and
fix aircraft engines as well as anyone anywhere. He had gathered all
the necessary parts and painted the case, cylinders, pushrod tubes
and valve covers to match my paint scheme. He answered all my dumb
questions and showed me how they measure and test all the parts they
use to assemble an engine. Everything he does is double checked by
another inspector (John is also an inspector who checks other
builder's work.). By the end of the first day John had the engine
built and ready for the run in the test cell. Very impressive!
On day two I joined Cal in the test cell. He attached all the FADEC
sensors and cabling, fuel supply, added oil, installed a test prop
and engine monitor connections. The engine started promptly and ran
flawlessly through the complete test run. Cal and Mahlon once again
answered all my questions. Cal then removed all the FADEC cabling and
readied the engine for shipment. Boy was I impressed with my new
engine ? I just love it!
I stayed over for day three because Jabe Luttrell, Vice President ?
Engineering for Aerosance was coming to do the fuel mapping for a new
Superior engine being developed for a new application (Military I
think). It was very interesting to see Jabe change the setting and
then watch the engine respond to those changes. Jabe was indeed an
impressive guy but one thing I found really impressive was Mahlon's
knowledge and understanding of the FADEC system. We all know from the
RV and Lycoming Lists how knowledgeable Mahlon is on all the Lycoming
engines but as a customer of Mattituck I found it really reassuring
to know that he knows the FADEC system just as thoroughly.
The final thoughts on my trip to Mattituck have to do with all the
people that work there. Everyone I talked to were real pros at what
they do and seemed to really like what they do and where they work
and that is a rare thing these days. That tells me that Mattituck
can't be too bad of a company if their people are happy and like
working there.
If any of you are shopping for an engine I would recommend that you
stop in at Sun `N Fun or Oshkosh and visit with Mahlon and watch John
build and disassemble one of their engines. If you can't do that just
call Mahlon and talk to him. You may decide to go with another vendor
but you owe it to yourself to talk to the guys at Mattituck before
you buy. They stand behind their products and their work! I know from
past experience with them when I was an aircraft manager in a flying
club and Mattituck overhauled all our engines.
BTW, I do not work for nor do I get kickbacks from Mattituck. I'll be
lucky if I can shame Mahlon into buying me a beer at Sun `N Fun! I
hope to see some of you Sun `N Fun and Oshkosh!
Danny Smith
RV-7A Finish Kit / TMX IOF-360 / Whirlwind 200RV
Last year at Oshkosh I sat down with Mahlon Russell and discussed all
the options available from Mattituck and decided to order a TMX IOF-
360 with the Red Gold package. It's their premier offering and one I
think results in a great engine for my RV-7A. The engine is built to
the very highest standards available anywhere and with the FADEC it
brings the Lycoming 360 into the 21st century much like the auto
engines we all drive today. Yes I know the basic engine is much like
it was 50 years ago but the TMX does have a bunch of improvements in
it. I have a Whirlwind 200RV on order and expect this setup to be
pretty smooth.
The other thing I did was to go to Mattituck and watch John Haas
build my engine. John is a real engine pro and knows how to build and
fix aircraft engines as well as anyone anywhere. He had gathered all
the necessary parts and painted the case, cylinders, pushrod tubes
and valve covers to match my paint scheme. He answered all my dumb
questions and showed me how they measure and test all the parts they
use to assemble an engine. Everything he does is double checked by
another inspector (John is also an inspector who checks other
builder's work.). By the end of the first day John had the engine
built and ready for the run in the test cell. Very impressive!
On day two I joined Cal in the test cell. He attached all the FADEC
sensors and cabling, fuel supply, added oil, installed a test prop
and engine monitor connections. The engine started promptly and ran
flawlessly through the complete test run. Cal and Mahlon once again
answered all my questions. Cal then removed all the FADEC cabling and
readied the engine for shipment. Boy was I impressed with my new
engine ? I just love it!
I stayed over for day three because Jabe Luttrell, Vice President ?
Engineering for Aerosance was coming to do the fuel mapping for a new
Superior engine being developed for a new application (Military I
think). It was very interesting to see Jabe change the setting and
then watch the engine respond to those changes. Jabe was indeed an
impressive guy but one thing I found really impressive was Mahlon's
knowledge and understanding of the FADEC system. We all know from the
RV and Lycoming Lists how knowledgeable Mahlon is on all the Lycoming
engines but as a customer of Mattituck I found it really reassuring
to know that he knows the FADEC system just as thoroughly.
The final thoughts on my trip to Mattituck have to do with all the
people that work there. Everyone I talked to were real pros at what
they do and seemed to really like what they do and where they work
and that is a rare thing these days. That tells me that Mattituck
can't be too bad of a company if their people are happy and like
working there.
If any of you are shopping for an engine I would recommend that you
stop in at Sun `N Fun or Oshkosh and visit with Mahlon and watch John
build and disassemble one of their engines. If you can't do that just
call Mahlon and talk to him. You may decide to go with another vendor
but you owe it to yourself to talk to the guys at Mattituck before
you buy. They stand behind their products and their work! I know from
past experience with them when I was an aircraft manager in a flying
club and Mattituck overhauled all our engines.
BTW, I do not work for nor do I get kickbacks from Mattituck. I'll be
lucky if I can shame Mahlon into buying me a beer at Sun `N Fun! I
hope to see some of you Sun `N Fun and Oshkosh!
Danny Smith
RV-7A Finish Kit / TMX IOF-360 / Whirlwind 200RV