w8ye,

Thanks for your confirmation on the OS 91 Surpass adequacy to fly the Hood 80.......This will be my first option if I decide to put aside the use of the G23.

I just receive a response from Horizon folks who have reps there for the Zenoah engines and posed the question about mounting the G23 without the aluminum backplate and they confirmed it and as you said it was acceptible to monut it that way in you experience......

Removing the backplate when mounting the G23 will also lessen the weight several ounces...I may need the weight back to get the CG correct....I'll tackle that when I complete the frameup and assemble the plane in its bare bones.

Thanks much.