UL520 new turbo 220 HP

[FlyinTiger]

I'm watching with interest. Looking for these modern engines to run a few thousand hours reliably, technological advances are exciting.

Next, examples of electrically governed props being used with these engines and learning about maintenance cycles/reliability of these systems in the experimental world.

Maybe UL will build FWF kits for RVs since they are one of, if not the most popular experimental aircraft built.

[swisseagle]

The RV-8 mentioned in one answer, flying with an UL engine:
- Needed an additional engine mount, the one from the engine supplier was not strong enough.
- It flew
- Had an unexpected engine shutdown, luckily on taxiway
- Somehow engine is running very rich

Now it sits in the hangar corner ...

[Mike Houston]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

Ray Lawrence, the UL importer, is a friend of mine. His 220 HP UL turbo has so far, maintained 36” up to 13,000’ ! He now has intercoolers installed and with his recently acquired oxygen, plans to go near 18,000’ for further tests..stay tuned...😊

Regards,

What type of plane is he running the engine on?

[Peter Costick]

FWIW

I know absolutely nothing about UL Power and so I don't comment on them.

But I will echo earlier comments about increasing the complexity of the build. I would estimate any change to the kit design adds many many times to the complexity, often in ways you would never expect.

My own experience with what was sold as a bolt on and go engine based on the Subaru STi from what was then a Florida based company ended in failure, and a loss of $10,000's. It nearly killed the whole project, and certainly put it back many years. I count myself lucky, a friend who also bought the same package got it flying in his RV8, after much work, and expense, but ended up crashing into a forrest when the engine suffered multiple internal failures in flight.

Now I am happily flying behind an Aerosport Lycoming. And the guy who crashed his RV8 walked away mostly uninjured.

Caveat emptor

[pierre smith]

Originally Posted by Mike Houston

What type of plane is he running the engine on?

Mornin’ guys.Ray has the engine in his RV-4, turned out to be a Rocket in performance! I was just there a couple of days ago and saw the longer motor mounts and cowls already developed for the RV-8, 7 ,9 and -12.

I’m putting one in my RV-12 shortly and the other -12 has incredible performance with its 130 HP UL engine.

Regards,

[Mike Houston]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

Mornin’ guys.Ray has the engine in his RV-4, turned out to be a Rocket in performance! I was just there a couple of days ago and saw the longer motor mounts and cowls already developed for the RV-8, 7 ,9 and -12.

I’m putting one in my RV-12 shortly and the other -12 has incredible performance with its 130 HP UL engine.

Regards,

Very interesting, there new Turbo 520 would be suitable for the RV14 and maybe the RV 10. 220HP @ 8000 ft must be up there with the IO-540. Do you know if they are looking into FWF for those planes, those are the ones I am interested in.

[jakej]

Originally Posted by Peter Costick

FWIW

I know absolutely nothing about UL Power and so I don't comment on them.

But I will echo earlier comments about increasing the complexity of the build. I would estimate any change to the kit design adds many many times to the complexity, often in ways you would never expect.

My own experience with what was sold as a bolt on and go engine based on the Subaru STi from what was then a Florida based company ended in failure, and a loss of $10,000's. It nearly killed the whole project, and certainly put it back many years. I count myself lucky, a friend who also bought the same package got it flying in his RV8, after much work, and expense, but ended up crashing into a forrest when the engine suffered multiple internal failures in flight.
Now I am happily flying behind an Aerosport Lycoming. And the guy who crashed his RV8 walked away mostly uninjured.

Caveat emptor

Wasn’t that his 4 engine ‘issue’ ? Sometimes a Lycosaurus is a better option.