Builders:
Here are links to a great number of stories on operations. Many companies have no such data on their website. Their goal may be just to simply sell engines, and that is easiest if the potential buyer is never brought into a mechanical discussion. On the other hand, we have data because we are in the business of teaching builders to be the master of their engine, and this involves some reading.
If your goals are those of the traditional home builder, to learn, build and fly, to be the master of your plane not just the guy that owns it, then read on. All of the stories below are written by myself, and reflect my 25 years of working with Corvairs. Contrast this experience with the fact that more than 50% of the engine sales people at Oshkosh have never put a wrench on the inside of an engine, not even the one they are selling.
In the 100-120HP range, just 3 engines have a 50+ year track record of flying: Lycoming O-235, Continental O-200 and the Corvair. I have worked with the Corvair since 1989, and slowly evolved it to the engine we have today. Along the way, we learned a lot, both about the engine and the needs of builders. The stories below are a reflection of this knowledge that we stand ready to share with any builder who has set his goal on learning and mastery.
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Above, a winter 2005 photo of our 601XL, N-1777W with hangar cat “Whobiscat” warming herself on the Cowl. We have been working with Corvairs a long time. Gus Warren in the cockpit at the end of a long day of flying.
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Click on any color link to read the story:
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Shop perspective: Mastery or ?
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Operations:
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Thoughts on cold weather operation, minimum oil temps, etc.
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Starting procedures on Corvairs, 2,000 words of experience.
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Engine oils and oil systems:
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Notes on Corvair flight engine oils.
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Corvair Oil Change interval….. Lessons part #1
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Corvair Oil System, information on oil pressure gauges.
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High Volume Oil Pump
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Ignition and timing:
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Aircraft wiring 101
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Ignition Timimg on Corvairs
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When to check your timing, Lessons learned Pt#2
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MGL vs Corvair ignition issue
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Cylinder Head Temperature:
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Cylinder Head Temperature measurement
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Corvair CHT, letters and notes.
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CHT part #3, Letters, notes, sources and inlets.
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CHT Part #4 more notes
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CHT part #5, flight data from Zenith 750
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Measuring Cylinder Head Temps on Corvairs.
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Cowling Inlet Area, marketing, accident stats, Darwin where are you?
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Spark Plugs:
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Spark Plug Installation
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A Tale of Two Spark Plugs……
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Spark Plug Issue resolved…..
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Cowlings:
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