Gone is an icon (Revmaster closes)

Firewall Forward Other Engines
1

Revmaster has been doing business for a very long time. But having recently spoken with Joe (owner) I learn that he has sold his location and moved and that he will continue with the automotive side of the business but not the aviation side. Revmaster still has stock of some parts available.

This leads me into my dilima. I now have a recently renovated Sonex-A with a low time (~35 hours) orphaned engine. Seems the value and sellability of my plane just plummeted. I was in the process of selling the bird when I found out about the closure. It’s my second plane and I don’t have time to fly & maintain them both. So, what to do?

Keep it and fly it occationally? Remotor it? Part it out? Modify it just for the fun of it - like putting in a comfy seat and take out the redundant set of pedals? Hang it from the ceiling and let it collect dust. I dunno.

2

This is sad indeed. Somebody needs to talk to the owners and see if they are willing to sell the aviation side of the business and help with the transition. BTW, your plane is beautiful. If I weren’t knee deep in EFI I would love to have it.

Wes

3

Sorry to hear Brock. Question, how many Revmaster specific parts are required to keep it going? The AeroVee is enough VW that I think they could be flying long after Sonex closes the doors.

4

Bryan,

This article below talks about propietary stuff. I had asked Joe about heads and he started explaining about special alloy he uses etc. Still I wonder if a regular aerovee or hummel head would work. I know for sure that electrically (alternators, ignition) it is very unique, but probably repairable.

Revmaster-R-2300.pdf (1.0 MB)

I’d consider trading the sonex for one of these :grin: …

5

Cool article, thanks. I’d rather have an Enstrom than a Jetson. But it’s hard to beat the economy of the Sonex.

6

Hello Brock,

I have an R-2300 (s/n 0122) with less than an hour on it that I bought from the original owner a few years ago. It’s been preserved and kept in 20% RH control but I no longer have a use for it. The original owner did not disclose that he had toasted half the alternator stator coils and I’ve been trying to call Joe to see if he has a replacement. I just get a busy tone. If you have a number different than the website 760-244-3074, please let me know. If I can’t get the coils, I guess I’ll have to sell the engine as a core.

Joe did beautiful work and I’m sorry to see these engines abandoned.

Paul

1 Like