ORIGINAL: RTK
ORIGINAL: waynebang
If you want to go to the field and fly and have fun buy a DA. If you enjoy going to the field and working on your motor trying to get it run correctly, buy a 3W.
I've seen just as many problems at the field with da as 3w. Da has the edge in service and 3w usually has the edge in power. If you have never run a gas engine and do not know anything about gas engines, or do not know anyone to help you with gas engines I would buy a Da.
In a case as described, I would recommend Zenoah. The G26, G38, G45, and G62 are all good ,reliable, user friendly, with many years of service built in, albeit heavier gas engines. I have had, or currently have Zenoah, DA, DL, 3W, CRRC, Thor, Sacks Dolmer, Brison, AM, among others, and they all will do the job, as long as you have them on the appropriate plane, and can adjust and maintain them properly. In general, I like my 3W for raw power on aerobatic planes, and my Zenoahs on the expensive heavy metal war birds. I am putting a 3W 80cc on my new giant P-47 though, over the GT 80. We are blessed with many good choices these days, IMO.