Why I picked Subaru.

[deej]

Regardless of what engine someone chooses, I find it baffling that people make choices on their homebuilt airplane based on perceived resale value. I've always considered this a project that I am building for me, and I really don't care what someone else thinks of its value. The true value in the plane is what I see in it, so the choices I make are going to focus around what I want, not what I think someone else might want sometime in the unspecified future.

If I wanted an airplane with resale value as a top consideration, I'd buy a Cessna.

Now having said that, the few Subaru powered RVs and Glastars I've seen sold do not seem to be selling for any less amount of money than those with a Lycoming. They may take longer to sell, though, due to the lesser number of people that may want to buy a Subaru powered airplane. I'm not really convinced there is a less resale value in a Subaru powered aircraft, but there may be lesser market interest.

-Dj

[videobobk]

Originally Posted by deej

Regardless of what engine someone chooses, I find it baffling that people make choices on their homebuilt airplane based on perceived resale value. I've always considered this a project that I am building for me, and I really don't care what someone else thinks of its value. The true value in the plane is what I see in it, so the choices I make are going to focus around what I want, not what I think someone else might want sometime in the unspecified future.

If I wanted an airplane with resale value as a top consideration, I'd buy a Cessna.
-Dj

Like so many aspect of homebuilding, engine choice is a very personal thing and usually given long consideration. As for resale value, I would guess you are planning on keeping your plane for many years. I am too, but I realize I may be forced to give it up at some time. I probably have quite a few years on you. At least when I bought my engine, the resale was MUCH different. That was one of many factors I considered. It shouldn't surprise you that that is a more important thing to some than it is to you. And I don't disrespect your lack of concern here, either.

I considered Subaru's long and hard. I have two of them in the garage, one turbocharged/intercooled that is an absolute hoot to drive. And this is from a guy who has had his share of Jags and Porsches. But if I had gone with Subaru, I would probably be grounded until I made some extensive changes to the drive unit. I am very happy with my Lycoming.

There are people out there who are building PLASTIC AIRPLANES! Some RV's even have tip-up canopies. Too each his own, be happy and fly safe...

Bob Kelly

[Ted RV8]

Bottom line. With all the choices we make when building our airplane there is one main factor that sometimes seems to be set aside. This factor is relevant in all areas of our build. It is my main consideration when making any decision related to my plane.

Are you willing to bet your life on the choices you make. Are you willing to extend that to your family.

Subarus are excellently engineered engines and automobiles.

I built my airplane with a Lycoming.

ted

[David-aviator]

Originally Posted by deej

......If I wanted an airplane with resale value as a top consideration, I'd buy a Cessna.

Now having said that, the few Subaru powered RVs and Glastars I've seen sold do not seem to be selling for any less amount of money than those with a Lycoming. They may take longer to sell, though, due to the lesser number of people that may want to buy a Subaru powered airplane. I'm not really convinced there is a less resale value in a Subaru powered aircraft, but there may be lesser market interest.

-Dj

Ha! I like your optimism.

I jumped in on a whim. I can jump out on a whim. What the heck, here goes, yahoo! Let's see if your optimism is justified. I've been itching to build an 8 anyhow.

As of today, my flying project is for sale for about half of what I have in it - $35,000. Will deliver most anywhere in the country and will ship to Europe for cost.

Standard homebuilt sales contract applies, you sue me, you pay my legal fees.

[rv6ejguy]

It is interesting that some people here like to bring this thing up here "would you trust your family's life flying behind ***** (fill in the non-Lycoming engine type)".

These same people seem to think they will be immune to harm because Lycoming is stamped on the valve covers and happily fly at night or over the rocks or IFR. These are high risk activities to me.

We've had 6 people killed in 3 crashes over the last 3 months here after 2 core engine failures (certified engines) and one power loss over the mountains in single engined aircraft. You and your family will almost certainly be dead if this ever happens no matter what engine stops running. Your options are almost nil because of your pre-flight decision. Your total faith and indeed life are in the hands of that engine up front.

The bigger risk is probably from what conditions and terrain you fly in and over, not the choice of engines.

And no, I won't fly with you in your Lycoming powered RV over mountains, IFR or at night nor do I do this in my Subaru powered RV. Most people never think about how much harder it is to deal with emergencies when you can't see anything in cloud or at night- let's say a fuel leak, smoke in the cockpit, complete electrical failure or engine failure.

Feel free to play the lottery if you wish. I choose not to because as a professional engine builder for almost 30 years, I know that anything mechanical or electrical can fail. I want good vis and suitable terrain below if it ever does happen.

We all have a different view of acceptable risks but I submit that once you have a real scare or really think about these things, your views will change.

Next time your wife asks you if this is safe as you launch into the night over unlit or mountainous terrain- tell her the truth- well honey, if the engine stops, we are probably both dead.

Not trying to paint doom and gloom here, just asking people to think about how they fly. One of the guys killed here was a well known business and aviation fixture, highly experienced and it is sad to see a great guy like that and his 2 passengers go like this. Something similar can happen to you.

[TSwezey]

Originally Posted by David-aviator

Ha! I like your optimism.

I jumped in on a whim. I can jump out on a whim. What the heck, here goes, yahoo! Let's see if your optimism is justified. I've been itching to build an 8 anyhow.

As of today, my flying project is for sale for about half of what I have in it - $35,000. Will deliver most anywhere in the country and will ship to Europe for cost.

Standard homebuilt sales contract applies, you sue me, you pay my legal fees.

Joke, I hope!

[deej]

Originally Posted by Ted RV8

Are you willing to bet your life on the choices you make. Are you willing to extend that to your family.
ted

Hi Ted,
I had two emergency landings due to problems with my Lycoming O320, and several other lesser problems with it as well (costing me a few thousand dollars in repair costs to boot), so I can personally attest that Lycomings aren't a golden bullet. My family are in fact encouraging me to put in something other than a Lycoming in the one I am building. I'm sure we could show tons of statistics to show whatever we wanted to with respects to engine choice, but my personal experience is making Lycoming a third or fourth choice rather than a first one.

I spent OSH 2007 asking every single "traditional" aircraft engine manufacturer I could find if I could run mogas with 10% ethanol in their engine. Not a single one would say it was okay, even the ones that allowed "straight" mogas (like Superior).

There are lots of other reasons as well, but they are all leading me towards the Eggenfellner package. it is entirely possible I might be making a bad choice, but from my perspective it seems to be the best one available to me at present.

-Dj

[Geico266]

Originally Posted by deej

Regardless of what engine someone chooses, I find it baffling that people make choices on their homebuilt airplane based on perceived resale value.
-Dj

Baffling? Why would you find it baffling that people build an airplane with resale value in mind? If you don't sell it, your family will. The facts are the plane WILL be sold. Building it without resale value in mind is baffling to me. JMHO.

[Geico266]

Originally Posted by David-aviator

As of today, my flying project is for sale for about half of what I have in it - $35,000. Will deliver most anywhere in the country and will ship to Europe for cost.

Deej, When was the last time you saw a 7A for $35K?

[deej]

Originally Posted by Geico266

Baffling? Why would you find it baffling that people build an airplane with resale value in mind? Where you sell it, or your family sells it, the plane WILL be sold. Building it without resale value in mind is baffling to me. JMHO.

Well, when I buy a car, I buy it because of the value it brings to me while using it. When I upgrade my computer, I do it because I want the use of the better graphics card or the larger hard drive space. When I buy dessert, I do it for the pleasure it brings me for eating it.

I'm building an aircraft because of the "educational and recreational" value it brings to me, and the use and fun I will get out of it once it is flying. Why would I ever want to spend this much time and effort to build this airplane around someone else's wants and desires? There are enough things in this life that I have to do for someone else, this one is for me! :-)

-Dj, being purely selfish when it comes to -my- airplane