[Orv Neisingh]

Several years ago Joe Huff asked me if I would be a flight tester for the 172 engine that he was developing. I agreed knowing that this was going to require at least a couple of engine removals and installations. Joe shipped his first version to me for installation in my own 162f. If you have done an engine swap you know that it takes some considerable time and effort to accomplish. I flew that first engine for about 25 hours then hauled my helicopter down to Texas to remove and disassemble the engine to check all of the internal components.

Joe took it apart, made some modifications, put it back together, ran it on the dyno and then we installed it into my 162f for flight testing. We repeated this process several times until Joe was satisfied that the engine design was ready for the Rotorway community. Following are photos of Joe in his immaculate workshop assembling the final version of my 172 engine and installing it into my Rotorway.