Kurt,

There are many opinions on this topic of what is the best engine to use....but the bottom line is always based on your usage of the plane and within the designed parameters. The 750 is designed for 1440lbs gross weight and up to 280-300lbs of engine weight. In my case...the cost of extra fuel between a Rotax or a lycoming doesn't really make a difference because I will probably  fly 50-75 hours per year at most. So 5gph vs 6 or 7gph...who cares -:)

I'm looking for HP and performance to get out of small lakes. Useful load?  I weight 150lbs and I will fly mostly by myself -:)  and my wife is 119lbs. That gives be alot more useful load.

The 100lbs in engine install difference is not a issue in my case. I know the Rotax 912S is lighter and sips gaz as oppose to a larger engine....but in my case I prefer air cooled engines as opposed to all the hoses and liquids on the Rotax like engines.  

I haven't made any final decisions on my choice of engines but I'm looking at ULpower 350is 130hp  170lbs installed and also the Lycoming O-233 115HP. These are quite expensive new but I'm also looking at refurbished O-200, O-235  and the O-320 could also be a great choice for power. 

At $1,500$ for your O-320...you can't go wrong. I have two of my friends that just bought O-320 for their 750's. 

The majority of LSA's are based on the Rotax 912 (80HP or 100HP) and most of them love the engine but I still prefer the air cooled engines...proven technology as well as the Rotax.

One thing is for sure...liquid cool engines have their advantages... less hot on taxiing, slow flight, winter start etc...  but hey...it's a personal choice. 

Keep us posted on your progress...many are waiting to see a video of a 750 with an O-320.

Andre

Kurt

Buy the way.  Where did you get your extruded angles?  I noticed that Aircraft Spruce doesn't have many of the angles that are needed.  I didn't ask the local distributors about the angles.  I will call them tomorrow.

Joe B

Kurt

Now that I have spent more time looking through the plans they are looking better and better.  Finding the Construction Standards helped answer some questions.  A few carefully placed notes would help alot in some cases.  Someone opened a Lycoming thread on the Open Forum.  However, they didn't even post an initial comment.  Lycoming is a great engine to put on an aircraft but from everything I have found on the web about them they are very heavy.  Horsepower is great but if you loose all your load carrying ability to the engine weight it doesn't matter much.  Thanks for the offer on the videos.  I have been thinking that they would be a good investment.  I did buy their Scratch Build Video."  Hopefully their 750 Videos will be as informative.  I have a budy that is really into hunting in Montana.  Complains about the licensing out there.  Priced materials at several local metal distributors and they were more than twice as much as Aircraft Spruce.  I was shocked.  Apparently they don't want to sell their materials.

If you come across the photos of the gear bend let me know.

Take care.

Joe B

Kurt

I gotta laugh.  "That damn camera cord!"  I love that you are finding parts in junk yards.  That's way more resourceful than I am.  I still can't imagine bending the gear myself.  My plan was to buy the gear from Zenith.  Pictures are worth the world to me, I figure things out from pictures all the time.  However, these drawings leave a lot to be desired.  I guess I am slowly figuring things out.  It would only take a couple of notes here and there to really clear up all kinds of things on the drawings.  Today I am looking into ordering some material.  This winter will be a perfect time to start pounding out ribs and smaller parts.  Thanks for the response.  There isn't much discussion around on Lycoming engines for the 750.  Again, thanks for writing back.

Joe B