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Micah's statement;
<"Certificated piston engines are noisy, vibrate far too much, cost too
much, take far too much maintenance, are inefficient, and unreliable.
Unfortunately they are the best we have at this point."

surprised me. He rode to OSH from Daytona with me this year.

I cannot agree that my DQ is noisy-- 90% of noise is prop-air blast. Not
engine. Put your car engine up to 350 horsepower-- 262 horsepower in
cruise --- and see how much noise it makes!!
By the way, has anybody noticed that V-8's are stuck in 2nd gear??? Does it
bother you?
Put your car up to 200MPH and see how much wind speed difference it is from
DQ.

I cannot agree that DQ vibrates "far too much".
I believe a glass of ice tea would set very nicely on the glare shield with
the engine developing 262 HP.

Costs too much. I calculate my maintenance and o'haul costs at $10.71 per
hour @ 300 MPH = or .0357 per mile = or .04 cents per HP hour to fly at 300
MPH. These $'s should drop as the new Cont cyls are much improved. Fuel
costs at .1125 cents per mile.

Take "far too much maintenance"?  As compared to what? a turbine--jet?? Yes
I suppose so. But at what cost, overhaul / hot section costs/  range, fuel
cost, and initial investment.etc etc.

Unreliable?? I have yet to have DQ fail to bring me home.

Who else can say;
Fargo ND to Daytona Beach FL  in 4:40,  landing with 1 hour fuel reserve
(18gal) with a Cont TSIO 550. No stops.

Ah-Well, Nuff said.

Charlie K.

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