Lycoming Opens Custom Engine Division

Lycoming announced this week that a new division called Thunderbolt Engines will offer custom-built products at its Williamsport, Pa., facility. Customers can choose horsepower, fuel and ignition systems, plus performance enhancments such as tuned induction and turbocharging. The customer can even specify engine color. The factory-built custom, non-certified engines are aimed at specialty markets such as Reno-style racing and competitive aerobatics, Lycoming Vice President Ian Walsh said at Wednesday’s news conference. The work at Thunderbolt Engines will feed back into the company’s research and development efforts and help to develop new product lines, Walsh said. The company also is interested in diesel technology and should have something new to show at Oshkosh, Walsh said.