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I've been a Lancair IV wanabee for a number of years and when I finally get



around to it, the feedback from LML is going to be invaluable.  I really



enjoy the discussions and feedback.







I have been really surprised to learn about short engine life with the



Continental 550 engine.  At my old company, we operated a fleet of 53 Cessna



402's and had nothing but good experience with the TSIO 550 VB engine.  We



had an approved TBO of 2600 hours and it was rare that an engine did not



make that time with no cylinder problems whatsoever.  Every now and then we



would have a case crack.  Oil changes were performed at 50 hours.  Much of



the flying was done into airprorts with TCA's requiring relatively rapid



decents and deceleration.  The average trip length was about 35 minutes so a



lot of takeoffs were made.  Power settings were changed very slowly and



engines leaned in cruise, but to a very rich setting.  The engines were far



more reliable than PT-6's operated on 20+ turboprop planes.







I will contact friends I have at Cape Air which operates a large fleet of



402's and see what they get for time and what sort of procedures are used.



The information may be useful.  Granted the L-IV is operating in a different



environment, but it hard to believe some owners are only getting 400 hours.







Peter Van Arsdale