Okay, EVERYONE (except the competition) is wanting to know when the BME Xtreme110 is gonna be available . . SOON!!!!!

But, here's a quick report/review on the 102Evo I just got going on my small FC330LX.

First off. . the motor IS 4.37 lbs (4 lbs, 6 ounces on my digital fish scale) with plugs and propwasher/nut. Add in ignition (5 ounces) and your choice of exhaust for the final weight. Compared to the 140's and 150's I have laying around, its a FEATHER!!!

Okay, typical BME stuff. . light, light, light. hows it run? I have a set of home-made headers for the BME (from when I used them on a few 5.8's), and a pair of Pefa canisters for a 3w100, so that's what I used for the exhaust system. Total weight of motor and exhaust, with ignition, is 6 lbs 6 ounces (motor and ignition: 4-11 lbs, canisters and headers-1-9 lbs) OR. . just a little bit less than a DA100 with standard mufflers. I got away with leaving the bottom end needle where it was at, but the top end needed about 5/8-3/4 turn more gas to compensate for the better scavenging of the canisters. The prop is an AM28-10 that has been re-balanced and is actually 27.75" tip-tip. The first run-up came after 15 minutes idling along and in the mid-range (using 50:1 Homelite oil and 89 octane gas) and the motor turned 5950-6000 rpm with the AM28-10. . . about what I wanted to see at that point.

Then I took the plane and flew it for 4 tanks of gas, about 45-50 minutes total flight time, and re-tested the motors power. Still rich (burbling slightly at everything but full throttle and taking about 5 seconds to clear its throat) and fully warmed up (right after it landed) the motor was swinging the 28-10 at 6250-6300 rpm. Even at this mixture setting the mid-range was smooth and predictable at all times with the most linear throttle curve possible, as good if not better than the DA150 I own.

As far as I am concerned the little BME needs about another 4 gallons of gas, and a bit of tweaking of the needles as well, before it will be making near it's full power. I "expect" to see 6500+ with the AM28-10 when all is said and done. Right now it rips the prop on level lines, and the vertical is VERY good (even if the plane is 27 lbs)so I guess it has enough power as it is. But, we all want MORE, and so, when the 110Xtreme comes out, the Evo is going on the shelf until I can find another plane for it.

Of note. . IMAC has a 95 dB limit this year. . 6300 rpm, 28" prop and canisters netted 92-94 dB at 25 feet, and you could NOT hear the plane in the air unless you were really pushing the power. In fact some kid with a small 50cc (well muffled) ATV was running up and down the parking lot 50 yards behind the flightline. . . I kept thinking THAT was my motor because it was louder than the plane!! and, of course, if anyone was flying a .40-sized trainer they drowned me out. . .

So. . the last gasp of the BME 102 Evo is a GOOD one. . Powerful, lightweight, smooth and QUIET. If I didn't know the Xtreme was coming, I'd be quite content with this motor.