Small engine control is provided in which a manual selection of an engine operating level, such as from a positioning of a movable selector between a discrete number of selection settings is used to reference open-loop fuel, air, and ignition timing commands for application to respective actuators in accord with simple yet accurate and flexible engine control. Control precision, sensitivity, and stability are enhanced through engine parameter feedback control, wherein any of the open-loop air, fuel and ignition timing commands may be adjusted in accord with a difference between a feedback signal and a target value.