Quote Originally Posted by Rik View Post
Here comes the defenders with that "insurance, layers and liability" argument.

Tell us, when is the last time you have seen any of those three amigo's come into effect with your personal aircraft life, much less your "Experimental Aircraft Experiences"
It affects me right now. Many of the aircraft insurance companies will not insure an airplane that has a converted engine. My current ride is a Sonerai with a converted VW engine and my broker told me that many of the companies they deal with refused to quote because Sonerais are typically VW powered. Even the quotes that were received had several that stated emphatically that an airplane with a converted engine could not be covered. Here is what one quote, that I still happen to have, that said in the notes section of the quote: "This is an experimental aircraft. To bind this quote the make and model of the installed engine must be documented to us and approved by the underwriter. Aircraft equipped with automobile engines and two-stroke engines are not acceptable."

The situation was similar when I had my 582 powered Kitfox, the 2-stroke was a deal killer for many of the quotes I got and i had to go with a company that charged about 50% more than what a 912 powered Kitfox would cost.

Did either of these instances it stop me? No, of course not, but it did in fact affect me in the wallet and is in turn still affecting me and my "Experimental Aircraft Experience".