jkkissick-

If you're intent on getting an OS LA for your trainer, I would at least get the .46 instead of the .40. They are the same dimensions and almost the same price. I have a .46 LA in my Kadet Mk II. It has ample power with the muffler baffle removed (a common LA modification), but not too much to spare. For instance, I don't have enough power to do an outside loop, which I would like to be able to do. I tried using it on a SPAD Debonair on skiis last winter and could barely get it off the ground.

I wouldn't say that they are necessarily more reliable than other engines. The plastic backplate is cheap and the screws tend to loosen up. I had a major deadstick problem until I figured that one out. You will want to use loctite on the screws. For my first few months, probably 80% of my landings were deadstick. Good practice, but not necessarily ideal. I seem to have it running fine now and have no real complaints.

If I had it to do over again, I would have probably gotten an Evolution, Magnum, or SuperTigre instead of the LA. I don't deride the engine like some others on RCU do, but I do think there are better choices. I wish you the best.