Does the 2 stroke have as much power? The only thing I could think of was the difference in sound and maybe prop size. Anybody have any other ideas?
The following are not ideas, they are facts. Price and maintanence is up tp the individual to decide what he/she wants. For any given size the four stroke will be heavier.
Now for the important stuff. For a given displacement the two stroke will always produce more power and torque than a four stroke. That is a fact and I will not argue about it. Where this higher two stroke performance can be used is a different discussion.
The four stroke engine has the ability to turn a larger prop at a lower rpm than a two stroke. That is purely a charictaristic of the engine. That ability is a result of the relationship of the rpm (measurable), torque (measurable), and horsepower (Calculated). That makes the engine eminently suitable for lower speed manouvers/aerobatics with the appropriate aircraft.
Ed S