RE: new Arf Boomerang 14lb thrust
KC, valid points of course.
Remember, though, that tires are cheap (even if flying from pavement) compared to the cost of a new engine when he trades up to the Elan or some other future airframe.
And plenty of folks find the idle thrust of the 80 quite managable on the intro.
Sheldon, check with Ali again and see if he agrees that an 80 (or something else in that thrust class) will save you a LOT of $$ in the long run given the pros and cons, even if it's not the absolutely PERFECT engine for THAT plane. He and Alan are the top 2 Boomer authorities in the world. I imagine they'd rather see an extra $2500 US (hard to come by for a young man, I presume) go toward an Elan, (complete with Jet1-A retracts and other acessories) than toward a second engine.......