Anyone tried a Hyde mount on a 50 cc gasser? Seems like it could save the airframe. What have you guys seen or what do you think about it?

Seems to me like it would destroy the muffler. That's typical of the vibration mounts that let the engine move around. Just ask any of the pattern flyers about how many designs of headers were created to try to make them last longer than a glow plug.

As long as the muffler moves with the engine that should not be a problem. A bigger problem might be change in throttle position when the engine deflects under high Gs. You'd need to mount the throttle servo on the engine too. Gets messy. I wonder how Chip handles these problems?

A muffler that moves with the engine IS the problem. Think about it. A muffler has 2 bolts holding it on. The mass of the muffler tries to lever around the 2 bolts. The bigger the muffler and the farther its center of mass is from the mounting bolts, the worse the problem. That's the reason that muffler warranties are voided if you use a soft mount on a gas engine. It's also the reason that Norton Commandos (with the isolastic anti vibration engine mounts) would crack mufflers and strip exhaust threads out of cylinder heads. The solid mounted Norton Atlas engine didn't have that problem - it would just shake the fillings from your teeth.

Chip Hyde (besides flying) is in the soft mount business. He can afford to break mufflers.

Chip Hyde flies DA engines, no soft mounts needed..His dad, Merle, makes the soft mounts....