AC Aero Gladiator Engine

texmex · Nov 29, 2022

Hello all,

I'm wondering if anyone has seen, flown, installed or any other war stories of the AC Aero Engine, in particular the Gladiator engine.

A mate and I own a Skybolt in bits and some stage we will need to think about firewall forward. More horsepower and smoother has me interested. It has an IO-360 in it now. It may a mythical thought but it's worth the ask anyway.

Cheers,
Texmex.

KevinJ · Nov 29, 2022

I know a couple guys with orders. One is a Bearhawk basically done just waiting on the engine. Sounds like the delivery keeps getting extended.

I haven’t been around aviation all that long but it seems like this same story line gets recycled over and over again. A better mouse trap is promised, then problems with the mouse trap then the mouse trap goes away.

The engine technology sounds neat. Hope it pans out.

texmex · Dec 20, 2022

Thanks KevinJ.

Yes the cynic in me would agree. But then I reminded myself of the transformation in Avionics and electrics in the last 30 years.

The lack of war stories on AC Aero however doesn't instill confidence.

aktango58 · Dec 22, 2022

We race a bunch of the Yamaha engines in sleds around here. The Apex turbo (RX-1 engine) sleds were king for lots of years until the guys that could afford them moved on to other things.

Those engines produced great horsepower per pound, and were very reliable in some hard use, 150 MPH wide open for 75 miles, turn around and do it again.

I think Viking is the company that is making these into aircraft engines, and they have my attention.

skywagon8a · Dec 22, 2022

They claim Honda engines.
https://www.vikingaircraftengines.com

1934A · Dec 22, 2022

aktango58 said:
We race a bunch of the Yamaha engines in sleds around here. The Apex turbo (RX-1 engine) sleds were king for lots of years until the guys that could afford them moved on to other things.

Those engines produced great horsepower per pound, and were very reliable in some hard use, 150 MPH wide open for 75 miles, turn around and do it again.

I think Viking is the company that is making these into aircraft engines, and they have my attention.

Edge performance is who sells a Apex engine converted for aircraft use. The turbo versions they sell run up to 300hp. Lots of other vendors out thete selling the necessary parts to do the conversion yourself. They really are about as bulletproof as an engine can be built.

skywagon8a · Dec 22, 2022

Here are the Yamaha engines: https://www.mohawkaero.com/engines

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Olibuilt · Dec 22, 2022

Gladiator LIO-390 build: Weight should be around a Lycoming O-320 according to the builder.
Will need to add a radiator and more.

Interesting engines.

hotrod180 · Dec 23, 2022

I figured that this Gladiator engine was just another automotive-ish engine conversion like we've seen hyped so many times before:
Subarus were a big deal 25 or 30 years ago, Hondas less so, Corvettes, motorcycle engines, etc.
Then I googled AC Aero Gladiator--
looks like a Lycoming modified with water-cooled cylinders.
Seems to me like a solution in search of a problem.
Plus adds the complication of a radiator etc.

JustAPartsGuy · Dec 23, 2022

Weird, but definitely looks neat.

AC Aero Gladiator Engine

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