KITPLANES checked in with TurbAero’s Bernie Breen on the development of the company’s 200-hp turbine engine for homebuilts. A partially built Van’s RV-7A (renamed the RV-7T) will be the company’s testbed once the engine has completed its development and ground testing.
In Case You Missed It
Editor’s Log
As Paul Dye takes the helm at KITPLANES, he looks forward to covering this exciting time in the Experimental aircraft community.
Overheard at AirVenture
AirVenture 2021 has just concluded as I scratch this out, making it a good...
Two Years to Solo
Ken Pollock did not come by his interest in flying in the usual way. His father was the first to want to learn, but then when he changed his mind, his son took up where Dad left off. All this despite the fact that Ken had broken his neck in a car accident, and had no use of his legs, and little use of his arms and hands.
Buying a Used Homebuilt: Pre-Buy Inspection
The pre-buy inspection-what is it and why do you need one?
Certainly be following this with interest !
Thank you! Wishing you the best. This may lead to the possibility of having turboprop replacement options for many of our certified Class I and II normally piston powered aircraft as well as homebuilts.. I have owned a light twin and now a humble Cherokee. I used to say one day I’ll have a turboprop on it. I was a former military pilot, I loved operating the smooth turbine engines. I know years ago, a small machine shop had made small turboprop engine of about 186 SHP that were put on Cubs and alike. They were burning about double the fuel as a piston engine. The shop decided to not continue making those small TP engines, even with a few in operation. I sincerely hope this becomes successful. We have seen great progress over the last 20 years in small turbine powerplants. Many of us are watching. Properly designed turbines are usual very reliable, even more so than piston engines.