Paul Lee - SQ2000 Project, Pierre SD USA

Engine:

Originally I made a deposit on a 200 HP Jabiru 6000 engine which was supposed to be available mid 2002.

At Oshkosh '02 the Jabiru rep indicated that the engine will not be producing until 2003 - too late for my project. Spring 2003 update: Jabiru started producing its engine about mid April but it turns out that it was derated down to 180HP which is slightly low for my plans.

I decided to get a 6 cyl. 200+ hp Franklin engine. Velocity aircraft has successfully installed Franklins and stocks an engine baffling shroud.

09-23-2002 Update: Purchased a low time logged (1430 hrs) Franklin 6A-350-C2 6 cyl engine from Franklin Aircraft Engines Inc. highly recommended by the company owner. Will install new cylinder liners and valve guides checked/replaced, the camshaft checked/surfaced and all new rings and camshaft/crankshaft bearings. The engine came with a rebuilt, yellow tagged crankshaft.

The camshaft turned out to be a reject beyond repair and somehow I wished that the engine seller warned me about it. The problem is obvious enough after I got more experience with it. Managed to get a reasonably priced good used cam from A-1 Service in Jewett, TX (903-626-5115 Susan). I also found Bruce Kown, another Franklin dealer (Carcasville, GA 770-386-7435) very helpful and willing to give advice even when I made no purchases from him.

11/12/02 The total price of basic rebuilt engine (without accessories) came out to $9,900. A factory new one was about $16,300.

Fuel pump(s): For some reason, Franklin had a recall on fuel pumps and they were expensive and hard to get. So I am going for a dual Facet electric pump setup.

Ignition system: Dual LightSpeedEngineering Plasma II ignition.

Electrical system: Dual independent electrical systems with double battery: First battery for main fuel pump, avionics, RG power and left ignition; second battery for starter, second fuel pump and right ignition. The alternator will charge both batteries through a simplified battery isolator circuit (see circuit details)

Propeller:

First prop: IVO 66" in-flight adjustable prop from Paul Peterson who discontinued his project and gave me a price cut. IVO was kind enough to exchange his previous prop for the size/type I needed. Sold 01/22/2009. I was unhappy with some vibrations which seemed beyond what I seen in other planes. Perhaps the particular prop construction did not agree with the SQ2000 turbulence behind the wings.

Ordered a 3 blade from Craig Catto, 01/13/2009. Craig said he would get it out by March, but......?

03/22/2009 note: I contacted some half dozen propeller makers in my search and it seems they were all behind in production at least 4 weeks. Some of them were 6 months behind (like Prince props, albeit they would turn it out fast if you pay a 50% premium). Sensenich props advertised a special prior Sun-N-Fun. But after contacting them and expressing interest they never got back to me. That is amazing for serious recession time. More people should go into propeller making.

Avionics:

Managed to get all the following on my panel (1 inch less vertical size than factory, for leg room).

* EFIS-D10 from Dynon Development (04/03/2003)
* MicroMonitor Engine Monitor (kit) from Rocky Mountain Instrument (5/7/02)
* Composite design mini power panel
* PS-Engineering PMA4000 Audio Panel w/voice recorder - replaced RST-564 9/6/07
* MicroAir T2000-SFL Transponder
* Garmin 300XL GPS/COM, with King 950 switching & annunciator panel.
* NARCO 122D/GPS VOR/LOC/GS - it shares its CDI with the Garmin 300XL.
* Digitrak Autopilot - It can follow a GPS NAV route feed from the 300XL
* Altrak autopilot altitude hold 		Redundant Avionics:
* Taskem 2000-4 digital altimeter with encoder.
* UMA 0-240kts airspeed.
* Electric horizon gyro - import.
* Panel mounted compass.

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