Hi ALL,

Interesting off-topic,

I read the Vickers Vimy Bomber replica was running M73 V12
engines... does anyone know of any information re: ECU and reduction
drives used for aircraft applications?
A friend is looking into +300hp aircraft solutions.

Thanks in advance!

Clive in Toronto

The Vickers Vimy started out with Chevy engines and later switched to BMW M73 engines. The Vimy no longer uses the M73 that it had awhile ago. Seems BMW came after them and forced them NOT to use their engines for fear of legal trouble. The Vimy now uses the "Orenda" V-8 which is a modified Chevy 600 HP takeoff and 500 HP continuous.

I believe the gear boxes for the M73 engine were custom made in the UK

Thanks for the update!
I gather the BMW had a failure, on one leg of the trip...
It was replaced and the trip continued.
Then BMW forced them to "not fly" USA for legal reasons,
they ended up with the current engines to stop the hassles.
I am interested in the solution, ecu/electrics + reduction drives.
Maybe it would be OK for a privateer and local aircraft?
I see the Falconer folks have a V12 in a Mustang replica,
that engine is a custom designed, not BMW creation?

Thanks for the feedback

I am not aware of a failure of the BMW M73 but initially they had lots of trouble with the Chevy V-8s, The BMW engines for the most part were trouble free. The latest Orenda V-8 are trouble free.

The Falconner V-12 engines are based on a Chevy small block, the engine was developed for racing purposes and it isn't a Falconner effort to put the engine in the mini Mustang replica. We lost a twin supercharged Falconner V-12 Mustang last year at Reno when it ran off the runway and burned up, a shame because they had 400 MPH in sight for the sport class.

This should bring the thread back to the E31, the Falconner engine has been suggested as a replacement for the M70/S70/M73 engine BUT, it never has received certification for use in a street vehicle and therefore would not be emissions legal anywhere. Sure in some states, there is no testing or inspection but technically is still would not be legal. It of course could be used in a vehicle pre-1976 or hot rods where emissions controls are not in effect.

Here is a link about the Vimy trip...

Ooops! Not allowed to post an URL yet

It goes: www vimy org discussions index html

eyewitness accounts and airport sitings...

Large airplane: 8000lbs and 2x 3-400hp engines

There is a bunch of info here...
I am checking the logs to see about the BMW
lifespan etc.
Not sure which engine failed or what happened...

More...

The actual pilots logs from 1919...

ngm.nationalgeographic .com / ngm / vimy / historicalflights.html

WOW!

And how would you mod it to work in a E31? Is it a DOHC/SOHC or OHC engine?

I remeber reading about a Falconner Corvette a while back that never passed the e-test and was not street legal?

The Falconner engine is basically a Chevy small block configuration just 8.8 inches longer and 4 more cylinders. it is a push rod engine. Chevy flywheel, bell housing and most front end Chevy accessories will bolt up.

Again, this would not be a street legal engine in any state in the E31.

HTH