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Re-Inventing the Wheel 
Rock and Roll
Along with the discoveries of fire, pointy sticks and standing on hind legs, our prehistoric ancestors figured out that when it was time to rearrange the furniture, rolling rocks around was a lot easier than dragging them, and so the wheel was invented.
 Through the 20th century, since the 1903 Wright Brothers Flyer, piston aircraft engines were constructed with the surfaces of flat cast iron tappets sliding directly against metal cam lobes, creating some of the same problems that our cave-dwelling forbearers answered with the wheel.
 Fast forward to the 21st century. Lycoming Engines has combined the tried and true concept of the wheel with modern technology and durable, wear-resistant space age materials to introduce general aviation's only line of production engines with FAA-certified, precisely machined, fully-integrated roller tappets. This design is available on most Lycoming engine models.
Of course, our simple wheel analogy doesn't approach the complex physics behind Lycoming's innovation, but nearly three years in service and more than 3,000,000 reliable operating hours speak volumes.
Innovation
At Lycoming, roller tappet technology is not an uncertified afterthought or an add-on feature for one experimental engine model. Only Lycoming offers fully integrated, FAA-certified roller tappets in most of our 320, 360, 540, 580, and 720 series production engines.
Precision
Lycoming's unique roller tappet design and manufacturing process involve precise "square to the case" machining of the crankcase for solid alignment and secure positioning to ensure smooth, exact revolution of the tappets.
Quality
Lycoming's roller tappets are backed by the extensive research and design efforts of a team comprised of Lycoming engineers and partners from a highly experienced, highly respected, world-renowned roller tappet supplier.
 To complete the FAA certification process, Lycoming documented over 15,000 hours of test cell time, including dynamometer, motoring, and extreme condition cold start, as well as in-flight testing. Championship performance under the grueling conditions of the Reno Air Races gave the ultimate proof that our roller tappets meet the standards that merit the Lycoming name.
Reliability
Roller tappet technology had already been proven through many decades of use in the automotive industry. Lycoming's application of the technology to aircraft engines has easily met and then exceeded expectations. Since being phased into production in mid-2005, after millions of dependable flight hours, Lycoming roller tappets have demonstrated an outstanding record of reliability.
Value
The Lycoming name always means outstanding reliability and outstanding value. Lycoming will take you from the first flight all the way to TBO with the best warranty, the best service and the best factory support in the business.
You're ready to "roll." Contact your Lycoming Distributor to find out how easily and economically you can make the change to the only engines with FAA-certified roller tappets. It's one more reason to fly genuine Lycoming.
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