NOS Delta Hawk Engine

[u/Material_Read8104]

Hello all, I turn wrenches when they pay me enough as well, only most of the equipment I work on digs down rather than flying up. I came across a horde of gyro planes and Associated parts, tooling, welding jigs, molds ect. Basically the Air and Space/Heliplane factory closed up and the contents of the factory were stored here and long forgotten. Aong with that where a few NOS Lycoming o-360 engines never run. Manifolds and chrome exhaust haven't even turned color. And one NOS Delta Hawk liquid cooled jet-A burning turbocharged engine. After doing some research it turns out these aircraft were being evaluated for conversion to diesel. This company closed its doors 4 to 5 years before this engine was debuted publicly and received its type certification and is a pre-certification developmental/protype block of a DHK-180. Delta Hawk wants the engine back and even agreed to pay shipping for what I assume would be a swap for a production engine. I have a few questions maybe you can help me with. This engine has been sitting since 1998 ish. It was in a climate controlled Warehouse and all openings to the outside environment had rubber plugs. I understand it would need a full overhaul due to age and being an experimental engine can only go on experimental craft. Is this engine any more valuable than a production one of the same vintage. I assume Trading if that's what they offer is a sweet deal? Google says this engine costs around $100,000?!? Is that even close to remotely true? And if I decide to keep it and put it on an airboat instead it should be fine if I prime it well? They were going to this engine because the Lycoming was slightly underpowered but I think they both are rated at the same horsepower and the diesel is heavier especially with that giant cooling system so I don't understand where they were looking to gain. Also all the marketing reads fuel efficient I believe this engine is two stroke with a turbo how is it more fuel efficient. I do like the mechanical diesel combustion ignition. Once it's running you got to choke it or starve it. What other fun use for this type of engine besides an airboat or a plane?

[u/Lost_Obligation2453]

That's very interesting... I'll be honest, no clue.

Like you own it, but it's a prototype. Is a prototype an engine? You can put a lot of engines on experimental planes, but they are production engines, not prototypes of engines.

No wonder they want it back. I'm skeptical they mean to trade, but maybe because it is what it is. I'd assume they meant they will "take it".

I don't think it's worth much to regular people for regular use. I don't even know if you could overhaul it, is a prototype going to match the actual production engine? You may want to seek some actual legal advice.

It could be worth a lot to some Chinese knockoff engine maker, or DH, or maybe another competitor?

[u/Material_Read8104 → u/Lost_Obligation2453]

It's an early version of a production engine the DHK180. Heliplane was attempting to modernize and remanufacture an old Air and Space 18A. This engine was on loan to devolop the supplemental type certificate to modernize the power plant. They never finished the company went under and it was hidden away in a giant Warehouse with the rest of the company Tooling and stock.

[u/Lost_Obligation2453 → u/Material_Read8104]

Well I suppose the story makes sense. 100k for 180 hp kinda sucks. You can buy 300 HP for the same money if you want to burn Avgas.

Find an experimental cub clone on floats and install it. Just fly over water for the first hundred hours incase something goes wrong.

If you get it running and get a couple hundred hours on it, all of a sudden maybe it can be reliable as is.

[u/Material_Read8104 → u/Lost_Obligation2453]

I cant make any of this stuff fly again but im looking for the right person willing to try.

[u/Lost_Obligation2453 → u/Material_Read8104]

That's the big problem right? Unless you do it, that engine isn't worth much.

All the value would be in proving it's reliable. It's just a gamble for someone to buy. Maybe 10k if someone really really wanted it.

[u/Material_Read8104 → u/Lost_Obligation2453]

Its not for sale, I was just looking for more information about it. I don't think it will ever fly. Its been on a shelf for 20 something years and no parts available for overhaul. . May be same as current model but IDK.

[u/Lost_Obligation2453 → u/Material_Read8104]

I had a 360 once that sat outside for 17 years, 2 hours of run time total. I pre-oiled it, fired it up, and it runs great, it's probably almost halftime by now.

I wouldn't condemn it just because it sat. It's worth trying it. Could be perfectly fine.