I recall reading that a 617 weighs around 450 lbs, so even with some minor mods, you're still looking at 3 lbs/hp. I'm pretty sure this is impractical for aviation use.

I don't fly, but I was lucky enough to get a little stick time in a T-34 Mentor some years ago. The pilot showed me how to do an aileron roll, and then he let me do one. It was pretty fun. That same month, I got even less stick time in an SH-60. The pilot took us up and had me try to hover. Not anywhere near as easy as it looks. I had aspirations of becoming a Cobra pilot in the Marines, but stuff happened and I ended up elsewhere doing other things.

If I had money to burn, I'd probably get my private pilot license, but at the moment, I don't have money to burn.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.