ORIGINAL: tuny
MT I'm not saying that it cant be done or that you dont save, its just that people who fly YS use it because they want the best engine and the best power source out there, not because its cheap... for example, I'm sure a non carbon golf club is cheaper.... but you want the best!
more economy is good, and people will like it, IF it gives you same performance... for example, the CDI, that saves a lot of fuel and has the same performance or better than glow plugs, total success!
its like sports car.. none will give you fuel economy... you just want the power!! no one when buying a ferrari, porsche, Lamborghini, etc is looking at its fuel economy. in this case YS is the Ferrari of F3A engines
you are right! in the cost you should include the purchase and maintenance of the engine, trust me after 350 flights... you wil need a new DLE
about the wet sump, another reason is why carring the weight of the oil??
Guys that can afford to buy a Ferrari, or any other super duper super woopie car, agreed, don't care about its care and feeding since they can afford that too. That's just not true with a YS 4 stroke, world-wide. Yes, there are a few for whom money is no obstacle but for the majority it just isn't the case.
As far as economic offerings, my experiments are too new. You haven't seen what I have seen, but I hope to have the pattern plane flying this summer. Then we'll talk again.
The DLE is no panacia by any means. It has taken quite a bit of development and re-thinking to make it pattern - viable. I have 4 gallons through it or around 70 flights. It's fully broken in but that's all. I may learn something on its life span come summertime. On the other hand, at 370$US from Tower, it's cheap enough to throw away after it breaks. What I don't know is how you can claim that the DLE will require replacement after 350 flights. Are you talking from experience or through something else?
But I know one gentleman whose opinion I truly trust that swears by them. He is a long time motorcycle builder who has been doing that for 50 years. He was a fine Pattern flier and team member as well in his youth. He tells me that the fit of certain parts is superior to DA's and he feels that every run is better than the last. I admit that I've seen similar results over the first 70 runs but I have no DA to compare against