Today I bit the bullet and placed my order for a Viking 130 engine and firewall forward kit. I opted for the DUC ground-adjustable prop since it was only a few hundred more than the fixed pitch Whirlwind. I also opted to go with the dual 12 inch header tanks with embedded pump which will go behind the baggage area and tee into a common feed to the engine. This configuration allows the fuel pump to be used as a tank selector and greatly simplifies plumbing, which is a big deal for me. I have been both anticipating this moment and dreading it, but now that I'm committed, it feels like a great weight has been lifted.
I finally got to fly in a Viking 130 powered 750 (STOL) a couple of days ago. I was already leaning towards the Viking, but had not yet tried one out in person and could not bring myself to commit to an engine I had not flown behind.
