What does the AE prefix do to a piston engine?

[ROB-x38]

G'day

As far as engine prefixes go i'm aware of what they all mean (eg: I = fuel injected, O = horizontally opposed etc...) except for these two: A and E.

eg: IO-360-A1B6 vs. AEIO-360-A1B6

'A' for Aerobatics so what are the actual differences between an 'A' engine and a 'non A' engine.

eg: in the above example:

- I presume the engine produces the same BHP and has the same temperature and RPM operating limitations, same compression ratio etc....?

- Is the major difference the 'A' engine has a dry sump oil system and a fuel delivery system which allows for unusual attitudes and inverted flight etc...?

And as for the E I have no idea except that in my experience where there's an A there's usually an E that follows. So what is the 'E'?

Thanks in advance

Rob.

[djpil]

There is some basic info at
http://www.lycoming.textron.com/main.jsp?bodyPage=/support/publications/keyReprints/general/aerobaticEngine.html

More detailed info from the Type Certificate Data Sheet, eg # 1E12 at
http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/MainFrame?OpenFrameSet

Some useful info here:
http://home.adelphia.net/~aeroengine/Lycoming.html

Of course, there is what happens when you fit the Christen system to an ordinary engine (Experimental unless per one of the few STC's):
http://musclebiplane.org/htmlfile/invert.php
The Lycoming inverted oil system fitted to the AE series is basically the Christen system' however there are additional mods to the AE's.

Finally, another Experimental option is the Maxi-Sump
http://www.skydynamics.com/homepage.html