If you need an excuse to fly right now how about this;

It is a well known fact that reciprocating engines generally last longer, run better and are more cost effective if, operated regularly. Lycoming gives those who operate on manufacturer's TBO hours/calendar a little gift:

="Paragraph Eleven http://www.lycoming.com/Portals/0/techp ... hedule.pdf

11. If an engine is being used in “frequent” type service and accumulates 40 hours or more per month, and has been so operated consistently since being placed in service, add 200 hours to TBO time. (Engines identified in AD-2012-19-01 are not eligible for this TBO extension.)

Full SI: http://www.lycoming.com/Portals/0/techpublications/serviceinstructions/SI1009AY%20TBO%20Schedule.pdf

Note #1: Most folks flying Part 91 have their TBO times based on field inspections (PART 43) and common mechanical sense. Check with your insurance company and/or stake holders however. I flew PART 91 for .gov and was not allowed over TBO during flight.

Yep, we use it quite often on flight training aircraft doing big hours. Surprising how few aircraft do 10 hours a week..

onefitty wrote:Yep, we use it quite often on flight training aircraft doing big hours. Surprising how few aircraft do 10 hours a week..

Surprised? Nah.

I figure most folks that own a personal plane don't fly 500+ hrs per year. Sure would be fun though.

onefitty wrote:.......Surprising how few aircraft do 10 hours a week..

Not surprising to me. I'd say that if it isn't being used commercially or for flight training, most aircraft are lucky to get flown more than 10 hours a month /120 hours a year. Some waay less.

hotrod180 wrote:

onefitty wrote:.......Surprising how few aircraft do 10 hours a week..

Not surprising to me. I'd say that if it isn't being used commercially or for flight training, most aircraft are lucky to get flown more than 10 hours a month /120 hours a year. Some waay less.

It's a "Carrot on a String" for me.

40 hrs a month is quite ambitious for most of us, including myself. Especially when every 100hrs of flying in my 182 averages about 6000 to 6500 dollars in fuel. I think I do pretty good flying 20-25 hours a month, The way I rationalize the fuel expense is knowing that I save in maintenance bills.. I do think that it is a good deal for flight schools though, I know that has got to be a tough way to make any money unless youre one of the big schools.

Ben

I thought I was doing good at almost 300 hours last year... That doesn't surprise me at all, but like has been said, that is a lot of flying for most!

Larger aerial patrol companies, like Brenco out of Durango, use subcontractors on shorter lines that don't work into a 2,500 to 3,500 mile loop well. For their own planes on big loops, they hate deadheads. For subcontractors, they don't care.

Loopers put 1,000 to 1,200 hours yearly on the patrol company's Lycomings and get 3,000 hours TBO. That is at least three days a week. Subcontractors get a lot less, but forty hours a month would be near average, I would think.

Aerial patrol companies like old guys/gals with experience.

contactflying wrote:Larger aerial patrol companies, like Brenco out of Durango, use subcontractors on shorter lines that don't work into a 2,500 to 3,500 mile loop well. For their own planes on big loops, they hate deadheads. For subcontractors, they don't care.

Loopers put 1,000 to 1,200 hours yearly on the patrol company's Lycomings and get 3,000 hours TBO. That is at least three days a week. Subcontractors get a lot less, but forty hours a month would be near average, I would think.

Aerial patrol companies like old guys/gals with experience.

Thank you Jim...

Lycomings are the toughest engines on earth. Period! We had one here in Hawaii that went 32 years before over haul (over 3000hours). After, tear down it was amazing, really nothing wrong. It had at least another 500 hours! BTW it had an oil screen no Spin On!!! Did not always have a hangar either in the tropics

It is also one of many abused engines from mechanics, pilots, overhaul shops too! But, pretty forgiving, that is why I fly Lycoming. I'm not perfect and Lycomings have held together in some bad situations!

Idk, I think Contientals and Lycomings are both good. It's a Ford/Chevy argument. For every good or bad story from one brand you could find a similar for the other. Busch put 3200 hours on his TSIO520 engines before a manufacturing flaw caused a piston failure. So there's two Continental equivalents to your Lycoming.[emoji1] Just ribbing ya 8GCBC[emoji41]

I've always been a Chevy guy but my jet boat has a Ford 351w in it with over 5000hrs. Still runs great. Cruise rpm in my boat is 32-3500. Was planing on swapping it out for a sbc but with such great service I don't think I'll mess with it.

whee wrote:Idk, I think Contientals and Lycomings are both good. It's a Ford/Chevy argument. For every good or bad story from one brand you could find a similar for the other. Busch put 3200 hours on his TSIO520 engines before a manufacturing flaw caused a piston failure. So there's two Continental equivalents to your Lycoming.[emoji1] Just ribbing ya 8GCBC[emoji41]

I've always been a Chevy guy but my jet boat has a Ford 351w in it with over 5000hrs. Still runs great. Cruise rpm in my boat is 32-3500. Was planing on swapping it out for a sbc but with such great service I don't think I'll mess with it.

Ha! I got you! Just Fishing for yah Whee. Knew you were reading!

Seriously if people understand the good and bad of this business it works with all type of equipment. Factory Lycoming guys and Continental guys share info because it just makes sense. During the Lycoming crank shaft failure debacles, Lycoming was calling Continental Motors for help. TCM actually set Lycoming straight on some manufacturering issues!

Fish on! [emoji38]

I'm hiding waiting to fish for you Whee...

Now gather around, listen to this...

Kubota (tractor*) diesels beat everything! My current Kubota had sunk under seawater (SF Bay) for over a month on the bottom. It was salvaged, injectors removed, dried with compressed air, oil/filter change and it started running great! Been pushing a 25K LBS steel boat around for the last 22 years with nothing but filters and oil. Before that it operated on the ocean a previous 24 years. Been thru a few alternators and raw water pumps however. Some have 40K hours and more. But, to heavy for my Scout and the EPA is killing diesel technology.

Filters are $ 6.00 from the tractor supplier on Island!!

* converted to marine using a heat exchanger, wet exhaust.