A little birdy told me the other night over the campfire that he'd heard of Lycoming selling O-540's intended for airboat use, for a more modest price. Apparently, free of the liability stigma associated with aviation, these old tractor motors can be had around the $15,000 mark. Are they factory new? Or rebuilds by independent shops? If a gent was going to build an airplane, and do funny things like use electroair ignitions, why not?

Looking for more information on that. Do they do the same with any of the 4-cylinder models?

I don't know about the engines, but my O-540 has a lightweight airboat starter on it. A no brainier at $200 vs $530 for the same thing.

http://www.schmidtairboats.com/store.ph ... how_detail



Schmidt Airboats LLC offers a wide variety of aircraft engines for airboat use. We specialize on custom overhaul of Lycoming engines model 0-540 (260 and 300 HP models) and 0-360 (180 and 200 HP models).

Our overhauled engines have a one year parts and labor warranty
In addition, we from time to time get good quality used engines that we check out and sell as is
We are dealers for Sensenich, Whirl Wind, Water Walker and Warp Drive propellers
We carry a good selection os Sensenich and Whirl Wind props in stock

Lycoming doesn't build airboat engines. The ones for sale as airboat engines have often been found to be unairworthy in such a condition that they no longer can meet airworthiness standards.

If you're flying an experimental, you can hang a steam engine on the front it it makes you happy.

Just remember, if the motor on your airboat pukes on you, you may just have a bit of a long wade to get home. A little different if you're in flight when it goes by by.

Of course, there's always snakes and alligators.....

MTV