Marcus S

I know the LS fits in everything, but this is a surprise even for me.

It's called the Hummingbird 3000. It's full blown kit-helicopter that's equipped with and LS7 (!). While you might be able to go faster in a Corvette, the Hummingbird will happily take you up a solid 14,000 ft before it hits it's service ceiling.

Of course, the LS7 in this thing isn't stock. It has forged internals, a specialized camshaft, and revised cylinder heads. Interestingly, it's been derated to make 280 horsepower at up to 12,000 ft. The best part is that it'll run on regular, 87 octane unleaded. You could fly this thing to your nearest Chevron to top it off. Theoretically.

Top speed is 100 mph and it sucks down fuel at 10 GAL/hr. I imagine that's about what people are getting out of their blown Camaros anyway.

AnotherWs6

iTrader: (17)

****.

Chicago TDP

iTrader: (3)

Dang...87 octane is a blessing for any type of aircraft!

With normal small engine flight like Cessna's and standard single engines, your at the mercy of aviation fuel and guzzling more then that....this is an AWESOME alternative...plus you can land that lil thing in your back yard!

superdave84

But why use the LS7 if it has been reduced to 280hp? Why not an aluminum truck motor or something instead?

WS6inMIAMI

bad ***. ls everything!

LLave

iTrader: (3)

Im sort of surprised it doesn't have oiling issues mounted at that angle.

AKAFRED

iTrader: (1)

280hp is probably all it will make at 12k feet up maybe..

shank0668

Dry Sump

N20zuki

Because the FAA has to test engines before they can be approved for aircraft use and production. Understand that engine is going to run at a certain RPM constantly through flight for many hours. They are claiming 3000hour overhaul on the LS7 which is murder on that thing.

With that being said, the availability of a off the shelf dry sump, steel main caps, replaceable cylinder liners and titanium connecting rods. Its a great out of the crate factory engine.

anarchy99

iTrader: (7)

too bad it retails for $152,000 and change for the kit. plus $55,000.00 for the powerplant, etc, etc... It's a bargain for a helo though.

pewterformula

iTrader: (2)

That's awesome. I want one.

1989GTA

I saw a Cessna 172? conversion to an LS motor. It did have a gearbox to keep the propeller speed in check.

Pop N Wood

iTrader: (1)

Like said above aircraft engines run at constant RPM so my guess they limited it to only 3-4K RPM to give it some life. That is why they want the large cubes. Last article I read about LS7's in aircraft also said they aren't approved for overhaul. So once it hits the maximum number of hours it is time to buy a new unit. I would imagine it also has dual computers. Not a cheap hobby.

That is an odd angle. Even with the dry sump you have to wonder if there isn't other oil system mods.

prochargedchevyi

iTrader: (9)

That is awesome. However, they need to change their promo music because at the 3:30 mark, I thought I was watching a late 70's porno.

sbcgenII

iTrader: (1)

I thought the engine was stock at first. Thats a relief...

.boB

iTrader: (1)

Because of prop speed, an aircraft engine can only spin so fast, and no more. For something like this, it's probably about 3,000 rpm max redline, and cruises at 2,200 rpm.

It's not so much that the engine is detuned, it's that the HP rating is given at 2,500 rpm, and not max hp. So 280hp is actually pretty good.

By comparison, a 580 cubic inch Lycoming flat 6 aircraft engine makes 315hp, and costs well over $120,000!

Z28Dave

iTrader: (10)

55K powerplant?? is that LS7 made out of gold??

Mike_hawk

Pretty neat helicopter, pretty reasonably priced too. An r22 only seats two, has a higher fuel burn rate and a lower overhaul period and costs about the same as this humminbird. Most aircraft use 100ll fuel that's about $6 a gallon. This chopper can probably be compared to the r44 helicopter in size/useful load, the 44 has a 540 cubic inch flat six engine that puts out 260hp but makes about 500 lbft of torque Its fuel burn rate is about 18 gallons an hour(100ll) and it costs around $400,000. Usually an aircraft engine is derated to increase longevity, move the powerband lower to ~3000 rpm and sometimes the rest of the aircraft's frame/driveshafts/gearboxes/rotors and hubs cant take the stress that higher horsepower may put on it. The redneck in me wants to see what it sounds like doing a low fly-by with flowmasters on it

TipsyMcStagger

iTrader: (1)

Not for experimentals.

Tipsy

breze84

Now I can tell people I have a Helicopter Motor in my car lol...