Originally Posted by
IFMU
I'm flying behind an 80 HP Aerovee, so basically a VW bug motor. But it is bored and stroked out to 2180CC and has a bunch of specialized parts to aviationize-it, like an accessory plate and a prop shaft. Sure it could be done but I think a scrap beetle motor would be pretty low on power for its weight.
Back in 1998, i briefly owned a share in a Evans VP1. It had a peacock-conversion VW Camper engine (1830cc versus the Beatle’s1600.) With 60KG me on board, it climbed at 500 fpm and cruised at 75mph.
What weight payload (warhead) do these things carry? I assume these things are basic and small, say basically a RC, GPS guided VP1 type aircraft with a warhead rather than pilot, so performance would be unspectacular but adequate. (Although given the low speed, probably fairly easy to shoot down.)