Van's Air Force
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Engine prop combo
- Thread starter Azemon
- Start date
Mike S
Senior Curmudgeon
Welcome to VAF!!!!
Andy, welcome to the good ship VAF
Good to have you aboard.
The factory recommended 260 hp engine and a 2 bladed blended airfoil prop are all you need.
Vans can supply either or both, and good OEM pricing.
Many folks are bumping up the hp, self included, but it is not a necessity.
The 3 blades props are reported to be smoother, but give up a few mph.
All in all, just following the factory recommendations will give you a really nice performing airplane.
Andy, welcome to the good ship VAF
Good to have you aboard.
The factory recommended 260 hp engine and a 2 bladed blended airfoil prop are all you need.
Vans can supply either or both, and good OEM pricing.
Many folks are bumping up the hp, self included, but it is not a necessity.
The 3 blades props are reported to be smoother, but give up a few mph.
All in all, just following the factory recommendations will give you a really nice performing airplane.
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Glad you don't want 250 MPH, because an RV-10 won't get you there!
Seriously, Mike gives good advice. Lots of people are flying the stock IO- or XIO-540 with the 2 blade Hartzell CS prop sold by Vans, and seeing 160 KTAS on 10 gal/hr. The gas mileage (nm/gal) is 50% higher than what I previously got in a C182, while going 20% faster! This is a great plane.
I know of at least one -10 with a fixed pitch prop, but I wouldn't recommend it.
Seriously, Mike gives good advice. Lots of people are flying the stock IO- or XIO-540 with the 2 blade Hartzell CS prop sold by Vans, and seeing 160 KTAS on 10 gal/hr. The gas mileage (nm/gal) is 50% higher than what I previously got in a C182, while going 20% faster! This is a great plane.
I know of at least one -10 with a fixed pitch prop, but I wouldn't recommend it.
Wayne Gillispie
Well Known Member
Welcome AJ!
The -10 is an excellent family hauler. (approximations)At 5500', 60% power, leaned to peak egt, <10 gph...150 ktas and 15 nmpg. Try that in a Tahoe or Expedition.
If one wants to have air conditioning or aux battery in the tailcone you will need the heavier prop up front. With lighter composite prop and a/c you will only be able to carry two small children or one adult in the back seats with full baggage. So glad I chose the -10 over the Velocity. Yes, this is an excellent forum.
The -10 is an excellent family hauler. (approximations)At 5500', 60% power, leaned to peak egt, <10 gph...150 ktas and 15 nmpg. Try that in a Tahoe or Expedition.
If one wants to have air conditioning or aux battery in the tailcone you will need the heavier prop up front. With lighter composite prop and a/c you will only be able to carry two small children or one adult in the back seats with full baggage. So glad I chose the -10 over the Velocity. Yes, this is an excellent forum.
Nick
Well Known Member
As others have said, stock 260HP. Personal preference would be a rebuild from Barrett, Aerosports, or Ly-Con. Prop: Hartzel Blended 2 blade. 3 blades look sexy, but you will loose speed and the cowl is harder to get off.
Our -10: Stock IO-540-EXP (Airflow FI) 260 HP, Harzell prop. Real life TAS @ 8500 ft, 177 knts @ 14 GPH. We're not set up for LOP yet, so I can't comment on that.
40569, flying. 190 awesome hrs so far. Currently down for paint.
Our -10: Stock IO-540-EXP (Airflow FI) 260 HP, Harzell prop. Real life TAS @ 8500 ft, 177 knts @ 14 GPH. We're not set up for LOP yet, so I can't comment on that.
40569, flying. 190 awesome hrs so far. Currently down for paint.
Azemon
Member
AP regulations v. Experimental Builders.
Thanks to everyone for the great feedback.
My question is, if you are a certified mechanic that has built many engines over the last 30 years, can you rebuild your own IO-540 and have it approved.
I have built and blueprinted many engines, for off road and fast cars, and would like to over haul and blue print my own IO-540.
Any advice?
AJ
Thanks to everyone for the great feedback.
My question is, if you are a certified mechanic that has built many engines over the last 30 years, can you rebuild your own IO-540 and have it approved.
I have built and blueprinted many engines, for off road and fast cars, and would like to over haul and blue print my own IO-540.
Any advice?
AJ
On an experimental you can build your own. You can make your own parts with a file if you want. Your engine won't be certified though unless an A&P will bless your work with a sign-off. All this really means is you will definitely have a 40 hour Phase 1 test period. Your engine has to be an unmodified "Airworthy" chunk to be eligible for a 25hr Phase 1.
There's not a whole lot to blueprint really. Mostly you can balance your brains out and do a really good job on fit/assembly. You can have cylinder assemblies flowed, but the gains aren't huge.
There's not a whole lot to blueprint really. Mostly you can balance your brains out and do a really good job on fit/assembly. You can have cylinder assemblies flowed, but the gains aren't huge.
johngoodman
Well Known Member
If you haven't even ordered a tail kit yet, don't even think about the engine and prop yet. By the time you are thinking about a fuselage kit, the engine choices might be very different.
John
John
If the TMA/Continental/Chinese 230hp diesel was available to the experimental market, I would jump at it. There is also an interesting water-cooled, mogas, fadec engine from Adeptair in South Africa still under development.
I have just taken delivery of a IO540 D4A5 from Aerosport
I am matching it to a MT 3-blade. It costs a couple of knots but looks cool and is, by all accounts, smoother. There is the new Hartzell 3-blade but it makes the MT look cheap!I can't see any reason to put in more than 260hp. If you need the power to get out of a strip, you are going to have trouble getting back in.
pierre smith
Well Known Member
Welcome to VAF.
Andy, build it stock and you'll save time and money. It's an incredible family hauler and will easily take four grown men and baggage, whereas a lot of the 'other' four place airplanes will be overloaded unless you just have kids in the back.
It will run over 200 MPH if you don't mind the fuel burn..around 15 1/2 GPH or loiter at 170 MPH around 10 1/2 GPH...I've done both.
The more I fly mine, the more in love with her I become
Best,
Andy, build it stock and you'll save time and money. It's an incredible family hauler and will easily take four grown men and baggage, whereas a lot of the 'other' four place airplanes will be overloaded unless you just have kids in the back.
It will run over 200 MPH if you don't mind the fuel burn..around 15 1/2 GPH or loiter at 170 MPH around 10 1/2 GPH...I've done both.
The more I fly mine, the more in love with her I become
Best,
Agree with Pierre. If you are an engine guy there's no reason not to start chipping away on your powerplant build. It will take you awhile to figure out what's what and when you get the engine complete it is a liquid asset (if done right). An engine sure takes up less room than an airframe and by taking your time you may save large bucks on parts. There's lots of "marginal" airframes that fly okay, but the ones with "marginal" engines don't stay up for long.
Azemon
Member
Thanks
You guys are the best. This is the most supportive group I have ever had the pleasure to be involved with. I have to give a shout out to Jake McInnes at Performanceengines.com, the Lycoming specialists, for his quick and response to my request for custom engine building info. I hope they will be a new VAF advertiser soon. Too everyone a huge THANKS for your input.
AJ
You guys are the best. This is the most supportive group I have ever had the pleasure to be involved with. I have to give a shout out to Jake McInnes at Performanceengines.com, the Lycoming specialists, for his quick and response to my request for custom engine building info. I hope they will be a new VAF advertiser soon. Too everyone a huge THANKS for your input.
AJ
