any one know of engine up grades for the PA 38 beyond the 125 horse 0-235?
is there one to use the 0-320?
"I did all of this under an STC Application but stopped when the FAA told me I had to do spin testing. I wanted to placard it 'No Spins' but that was not acceptable to them. I would of had to mount a spin chute and a quick release door for their pilot to test fly it and I didn't want to go thru all of that. So I filed a Form 337 to cover the changes and dropped the STC. I never did spin it but I'm sure it would of had a much better recovery."
http://pipertomahawk.com/320install.htm
It was many years between flights in a 152 and a Tomahawk, but I don't remember the Tomahawk as being that under powered, relative to the 152.
Do Tomahawks need more power?
It was many years between flights in a 152 and a Tomahawk, but I don't remember the Tomahawk as being that under powered, relative to the 152.
Do Tomahawks need more power?
Considering that 150/150 seems like a common sight around here, I imagine a Tommy would benefit from O-320 in Colorado.Do Tomahawks need more power?
Do Tomahawks need more power?
The plane was designed as a trainer. Unless you're at a high/hot airport, the 112 HP 0-235 is just fine for that role - it doesn't burn a lot of fuel, and the airplane performs fine. But, if you want more climb or a little more speed, you'll need more ponies under the cowling.
I thought the "traumahawk" was already placarded against spins.
This isn't about going fast.I think the idea is to try to make a certified RV-9 or something. It's been tried before with the Grumman Yankee, the Globe Swift and the Cessna 152. Short on gas and short on useful load. Wanna go fast? Gotta start from scratch.
why is it? that every time we talk about upgrading the horse power folks here think we are trying to go faster?
Faster is a profile drag issue not horse power.
. So why, if not to go faster, would you want an O-320 in a Tomahawk?
So why, if not to go faster, would you want an O-320 in a Tomahawk?
I think the idea is to try to make a certified RV-9 or something. It's been tried before with the Grumman Yankee, the Globe Swift and the Cessna 152. Short on gas and short on useful load. Wanna go fast? Gotta start from scratch.
Well, an O-320 would be overkill in a Traumahawk. But to answer your question otherwise, takeoff and climb performance. I fly a Cessna 150 with an O-320 in it. We use it to tow gliders.
And to sort of rephrase what Tom said, it takes a SIGNIFICANT increase in horsepower to make any appreciable change in cruise speed.
Well, an O-320 would be overkill in a Traumahawk. But to answer your question otherwise, takeoff and climb performance.
I was asked if the 0-320 was feasible, knowing that the FAA will approve the upgrade quicker when there are other copies flying than doing the one time STC.
I was looking for some one who had completed this process and has the data to do it. The why do it issue is none of my business the customer wants it, is good enough for me.
Because it is about going faster. Horse power is commonly used to overcome profile drag. Either climbing faster, cruising faster, or both. Rarely do these engine swaps get a significant increase in gross weight, so it's not about hauling more and they never get much of an increase in fuel tanks, so it's not about flying farther. Bigger engine rarely ever means flying cheaper. So why, if not to go faster, would you want an O-320 in a Tomahawk?
Not much of that applies in this case we are at sea level, he's not fat, and has no big trees at the end of his strip. but it is short.Fat ass, high altitude, short strip with high trees...
I know it doesn't not apply here but as a 172 owner with a 145 HP engine I keep thinking about how to get more power for density altitude for places I want to go. That was the first though in my head reading this.
I know it doesn't not apply here but as a 172 owner with a 145 HP engine I keep thinking about how to get more power for density altitude for places I want to go. That was the first though in my head reading this.
Put a turbo on it.
it's not that easy.
It might be easier to "hotrod" the existing engine, than to install an O320.
Shouldn't be too hard to eek 125-130 hp out of the O235 that's in it.
Hang an LS-7 Chevy on it, apply for an STC and operate it ExR&D and let him fly it. There's a Twin Commander still flying around on Orendas like that for over 2 decades with no limitations other than the general Experimental limitations. A Tomahawk with 400hp should get out pretty short, put a Lenco 2 speed on it for reduction and now you can have 650hp for takeoff; should be airborne before the hangar door.
Like I said, my first thought when reading the original post due to my planes power range. No, I won't turbo it, I will be replacing the entire plane with a 182.Put a turbo on it.
there ya go again, over the top of reality.
I doubt there would be anyone beyond your client that would ever want to pay for it.