Anybody out there running one of the Evolution gassers? LHS has one of the 26GT's and without plunking down $375 to experiment I look to the sage wisdom offered here. Weight-power ratio is amazing, but does it cut the mustard? As a note the other gasser I was looking at is a Zenoah G26 (almost 2x weight!)

Do a search, you'll get hundreds of posts on them, and their twin, the MVVS 1.6. I have one, it's a great engine, makes good power, runs well, and as you said, reasonably light.

i have one of each and are happy with both

evolution and MVVS are one-egged twins. Do a search on both, and you will find a wealth of information.
The MVVS 160 is by far the most powerful gasser in it.s class with power just shy of the OS 160 FX

The MVVS 1.60 (Evolution 26GT) is very strong, and reliable. Installs easy, Setup is easy, and Starts easy.... The price is high, and you must get a good muffler.... The wrap around pitts that Horizon sells is a good one... and tuned silencer from MVVS is very good...

I ran mine on several models.... 74inch Staudacher 13lbs.. great IMAC plane
84inch Taylorcraft 17lbs.. again great flying model
Hanger 9 Funtana 90.... good 3der
80 inch BalsaNova.... would hold hover at about 60% of throttle... 18x6Evolution wood prop, and tuned
pipe.

Wow, didn't know the 26GT can pull a 17# plane. Is the engine really that powerful?

Mine pulled a 18 lbs tow plane + 12 lbs glider both in piggy-back or tow using tuned pipe and 18x8 menz or similar props.
Tow plane only could perform sedate aerobatics.

My P-47 is a bit over 17 pounds and the 26GT makes it fly scale-like - some vertical, not a lot. Interesting throttle response - it is almost idle or full with very little in between.

Sounds potentially problematic. Are you saying you are pleased with the engine or otherwise? With little in between, hows fuel consumption?

Mine doesn't have that kind of throttle response at all, it's very linear. Mine is installed in a Hangar 9 SuperCub (actually, one I purchased from tailskid), and it's an awesome engine, it flies very scale like at 1/4 throttle, and full throttle is pretty close to vertical. Fuel consumption on mine is ridiculous. I've flown it for 45 minutes on the 20oz tank I have in it, and still had plenty of fuel left. Of course, it's a Cub, so it was all at low throttle, but still impressive. I think it's a great engine, I'd love to have another one.

I agree with the fuel consumption - or what little there is