Hi Rich,

Tried and true sounds good to me in this context. I've never worked on one of the various canard designs (though I was seriously interested in the Berkut at one point), but I could put you in touch with folks who could help.

For my money (and neck), I've always been a proponent of using aviation engines in airplanes. See the "tried and true" concept; the duty and power cycles are far in excess of the demands for which automotive engines have been designed, even the Wankels. That said, it's called experimental aviation for a reason. Follow whichever path catches your interest, then do everything you can to mitigate risk.

If I can be of any assistance whatsoever, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Ken