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Tom Wilson

Tom Wilson
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Pumping avgas and waxing flight school airplanes got Tom into general aviation in 1973, but the lure of racing cars and motorcycles sent him down a motor journalism career heavy on engines and racing. Today he still writes for peanuts and flies for fun.

Certified vs. Experimental

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Just as airplanes are legally grouped as certified or Experimental, engines follow the same scheme.

Air-cooled Volkswagen

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The air-cooled Volkswagen aero conversion community shares many characteristics. Obviously they are all built from the VW Type-1 engine, even if some have been...

Compression Ignition (Diesel & Jet A)

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Continental Thanks to their complex and high-pressure nature, diesel (Jet A-burning) piston engines are premium devices full of expensive parts, and their penetration into the...

Stroke! Stroke!

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Over time, two-stroke engines in aviation have been supplanted by four-stroke units, trading low weight for a perception of greater reliability.

Rotary (Wankel)

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American Rotary Engine /Auto PSRU’s We’re combining these two very separate companies under one heading because they join to offer a Mazda 13B rotary engine...

Radial and Rotary (Traditional)

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Classic Aero Machining For those seeking an authentic, full-gyroscopic rotary experience, New Zealand-based Classic Aero Machining has developed brand-new seven- and nine-cylinder Gnome Monosoupape engines....

Inline and V Four-Stroke

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AeroMomentum We hope AeroMomentum doesn’t mind us characterizing them as a boutique engine maker, but they are a compact company centered on delivering modern, water-cooled,...

2024 Engine Buyer’s Guide

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Costs are up and supplies remain tight, so plan accordingly.

Now What?

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Reno is gone but that doesn’t mean the end of pylon air racing.

Reno’s Experimental Honor Roll

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Just some of Reno’s more iconic hot rods.

In Case You Missed It

Build It Better: Play by the Rules

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Some rules are made for you, and some rules are made by you. Those personal rules create a higher level of safety for you and your passengers, and they are the mark of professionalism in a pilot.

Engine Theory: Oil

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Oil: lubing and cooling the source of thrust.

Stressing Structure

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Torque tubes and the shear modulus.

Stainless Steel

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The reality behind this pretty but high-maintenance material.