Stein, no flame received.
I've just tried to post what my numbers are and that I really didn't spend a lot of extra money on my engine. I wanted an engine that was reliable and smooth, and I think I got that. I've owned a number of airplanes over the years, and most everyone who has is very much aware of all of the incipient cracking that goes on. I don't have any of that on this one, at least yet, but at 360 hours, normally there would be some cracking---- baffles, exhaust, etc.
So, here's the comment I've been avoiding, but you're kind of forcing me into it. I don't really believe I have a 310 hp engine. The data plate is stamped that way, so I had no choice but to register it as that. However, I have had no luck getting the dyno sheet from Performance Engines, and I do believe they exaggerate a little (maybe a lot). I can't run it at 2800 rpm due to the limitation on the prop. Do I believe I would get that much HP from another 100 rpm? No. I keep asking for the dyno sheet from PE, but no luck, so we'll leave it to them to prove otherwise. I've asked Stuart Featherstone multiple times for the dyno readout. The fact that I can't get it tells me something is a little exaggerated.
However, all said and done, I think a derated engine will give long term reliability, which is what I was after.
The flight test Tim and I flew was all for fun. It really doesn't prove anything, nor am I out to prove anything here. There's just been so many questions asked by those who are trying to decide on what choices that if all of us just put our numbers out there it will give more data. In no way do I mean for any of my posts to try to convince someone to do soemthing because I did it that way. Unless of course I feel someone is doing something that is unsafe.
In the end, I am a very happy customer, and pleased with the combination of performance that I have from Van, the prop, and the engine. But this is experimental aviation, and what makes the world go around is that others might enjoy a different combination, and even achieve better performance. All of the RV series have continued to see improved performance in all areas over the years because of all of the different combinations tried by others. That's why we are here.
Thanks for your opinion, and forcing me to reply.
I had actually decided to not post about it any more because of the nit picking. It was all don ein fun, and unfortunately inflection doesn't come across in email.
I think we can summarize it as thus: Vic is getting a consistent 165-170 KTAS on an RV-10 with an IO-540 engine built by Performance Engines and mated to an MT prop, and perhaps leave it at that. It's very smooth, the actual hp is unknown.
Any one is invited to come to Atlanta and fly my airplane as just one example of how to do it.
Vic