Walsh’s IO-390-X Powered RV-8A On Display

By Ann Correspondent Christopher Armstrong

Ian Walsh, who was named Vice President and General Manager of Lycoming Engines last September, may have been looking forward to the opportunity to display his personal RV-8A at Oshkosh for the last 10 months. His great looking plane was located in front of the Lycoming display right in the middle of Oshkosh Airventure 2005.

Walsh’s plane is powered by Lycoming’s most powerful 4 cylinder fuel injected, normally aspirated engine, the IO-390-X. This engine makes 210 hp at 2,700 rpm and is one of the new line of engines from 160 to 300 hp to be made available only for experimental aircraft market. Engine models that will be available include the 320, 360, 390 and 540 with Lycoming’s new Roller Tappet Technology available on some models. 

ANN spoke with Walsh at Oshkosh trying to determine what the new guy at the top has planned for Lycoming’s future. Walsh’s mantra seems to be: higher performance, lighter weight and incorporation of advanced technology.

Walsh described Lycoming’s recently renovated advanced technology center as the key to meeting his goals. The new center brings together the engineers in a team-oriented environment with the tools they need to develop and incorporate new materials, manufacturing methods and engine controls.

Lycoming has installed automated test cells to allow collection of more accurate data when every engine is tested. The automated testing allows engineers to observe smaller changes in performance so that they can more easily identify performance enhancing opportunities. The high quality data dramatically improves quality when incorporated in the quality control process. Walsh expects that the improvements made to Lycoming’s engine line in the Technology Center to be the key maintaining or increasing market share with their current product line.

Having addressed one significant new market head on with the experimental aircraft line, ANN asked Walsh if he has any plans to enter the new Light Sport Plane Market. He said that in the current production line only the 235 is applicable, and only for the heaver planes in the category. The Lycoming 235 makes 115 hp with an installed weight around 280 pounds. By contrast the most dominant engine in the LSA market is the Rotax 912s, a 100 hp engine that weights approximately 180 pounds installed.

Walsh also intends for the company to look at products other then engines. Walsh’s vision for the company includes such engine related products as fuel systems and propeller controllers, and total aircraft systems integration.

FMI: www.lycoming.textron.com