I posted a while back about my partnership. Just in case we go our separate ways, there are a couple of planes I'm interested in and they tend to be powered by Franklin engines.
First is the older Maule M-4. Seems to me to be like a Pacer on steroids. Some have Continental IO-360s, others have the 220 HP Franklin
Second is the Stinson 108. They have a smaller (165 HP?) Franklin as far as I can tell.
I also have seen C170s and maybe even some 175s that were converted to Franklins probably many years ago.
I know that the original Franklin Co. went out of business years and years ago and that someone transferred manufacture of the Franklin to Poland. But from what I can gather, the Poland thing ended some time ago when some big company bought some other company, or some such thing.
I've read about some new company in either NC or SC buying out the regular sources of Franklin parts and intending to manufacture new Franklin engines. Is that for real?
I don't want to buy something and rely upon a yet to be proven new company. I also don't want to get stuck with an orphan engine where I can't buy a good crank or case halves if something goes really wrong. Buying a yellow-tagged crank off eBay is not something I want to get into.
What's the real deal with these Franklins?
First is the older Maule M-4. Seems to me to be like a Pacer on steroids. Some have Continental IO-360s, others have the 220 HP Franklin
Second is the Stinson 108. They have a smaller (165 HP?) Franklin as far as I can tell.
I also have seen C170s and maybe even some 175s that were converted to Franklins probably many years ago.
I know that the original Franklin Co. went out of business years and years ago and that someone transferred manufacture of the Franklin to Poland. But from what I can gather, the Poland thing ended some time ago when some big company bought some other company, or some such thing.
I've read about some new company in either NC or SC buying out the regular sources of Franklin parts and intending to manufacture new Franklin engines. Is that for real?
I don't want to buy something and rely upon a yet to be proven new company. I also don't want to get stuck with an orphan engine where I can't buy a good crank or case halves if something goes really wrong. Buying a yellow-tagged crank off eBay is not something I want to get into.
What's the real deal with these Franklins?