I remember the first light aircraft that I had ever seen up close, was a Fletcher with a 720 spraying a crop on my mates farm. The ag pilot had the cowls off the thing at one point and explained the unique design of air cooled, slow revving, large cubic inch, high power aero engines.
The next light aircraft that I encountered (and my first ever flight) was a C210 taking us on a scenic flight. I recalled being nervous about the (likely) very cashed strapped owner and his tiny aircraft that only had a gutless 285hp 6 cylinder engine and not a 400hp V8 like the Fletcher!