Originally Posted by
speedracerntrixie
I wouldn't go as far as to say that. I will say that most DA engines 100cc and larger are being used for IMAC. That means lots of use. When I was at the top of my game I was burning 5 gallons a week every week for 3 years. Then when somthing just wasn't quite right with fhe engine it was sent in although that didnt happen very often at all. Most of the Chinese engines are being used by sport pilots and IMO dont get tje same amount of hours and are not being judged at the same level. Example, most sport guys love their DLE 55 engines, I hated mine. Mainly because I was judging it to the same level as my DA 50.
That is exactly my point. A practicing and competitive IMAC pilot will put 300-500 flights on an airframe a year. My DA150 went 7 years before I sent it back for anything. It went back because the plane crashed and it ripped the head off the case. For minimal cost I was back in the air.
My DA200 had about 500 gallons through it before I had the crank issue. Which they fixed free of charge after several years of use, because the had a new version of the crank.
I can can not stress enough, that if you wonder why jobs aren't here in the US, it is because of this discussion. You have an incredible line of engines, well supported, all made here... Why is there a question? If you look at the total cost... There it is not more expensive to buy a DA... Also look at the resale value, stays higher than the others.
Those are my views... You do as you like.