What engines can a Dragonfly use?
The original prototype was designed for a 1600cc VW (Type I) engine. Although the early newsletters are filled with cautions against installing anything larger than an 1835cc VW, most builders nowadays (1998) would tell you that 1835 is about the smallest you should consider. Much of this is due to modern man’s insistence on electric starters, full NavCom radios, night-flight lighting systems, vacuum systems, etc. These have all resulted in the typical Dragonfly of the 90’s being much heavier. Thus, most builders are installing at least 2180cc engines. The VW engines are cheap, and there is a considerable amount of builder experience surrounding these engines, but they are not without their problems. There are several Subaru EA-81 engines flying, as well as a couple of Continental O-200s and a smattering of others (Jabiru, Legacy, Hirth), and many of us are working on Corvair conversions (Photos). If you are willing to be a bleeding edge pioneer, there are many engines to try!
