Microlighters

Howzit,

A while back there was acomment that some guys in the Cape fly their Voyageur trikes with BMW motorbike engines.

What are the advantages (if any) of using a BMW bike engine? And if it is cheaper, how much cheaper compared to, say, a Rotax 912 or similar?

I see also that Cubby offer BMW power with their aircraft. Do any other 3-axis aircraft in SA use Beemer motors?

Thanks and cheers

Rooikat

Vliegvark is the guy who can answer you on the Beemer motors. It's not simply plugging in a motor, there is the dual ignition requirement, a gearbox and mapping of the fuel-injection system.

Vliegvark is an enthusiast who has the knowledge and expertise to be able to remap the fuel and ignition systems himself. I don't know of any commercial enteprise here in SA who will sell you an engine and support it.

I know him and his dad and they do get good performance and reliability out of the engines.

A friend of mine bought a raptor (ex military) witch was fitted with a

1000cc motorcycle engine, he replaced it with a rotax 582.

The bmw engine was apparently very rough and power was comparable

to somewhere between a 503 and a 582 rotax.

Maybe this answers some of your questions.

Here are some pic's I rec from a guy in Germany by the name of Rens.

Have a look at www.windsandwings.com. Alex flies a BMW. Most ppl reckon they had to REDUCE power to compare to 582 etc. Alex was most happy with his conversion and it sounds AWESOME, have a look at High Five clip.

To me the Suzuki mounts look VERY promising.

www.airtrikes.net - BMW, Suzuki etc.

I also remember seeing an article on the net of a Pietenpol Aircamper in

the netherlands that was fitted with a bm motor.

As far as the power is concerned Dieselfan, I can only say what i heard

from my friend, but then again hi's Raptor was fitted with the old 1000cc

boxer that was used on the old speedcop bikes in the 60's and for

interrest sake, itwas converted to dual ignition.

I suppose the more modern engines will be much more powerfull.

The older 1000cc and smaller BMW engines were aircooled 2 valve designs, the more modern 1100/1150/1200 cc units are oil cooled, multi valve, dual spark, injection engines that are miles apart from the older units.

The current 1200 boxer engine is also lighter that previous units, I think matched with the right reduction gearbox this will make a fantastic powerplant. It is more powerfull than a Rotax 912S (90kw/120 hp @ 8500rpm in the R1200S but power differs according to engine mapping) and will run all day flat out ! (Ask me, did 1700km in less than 12 hours including fuel, food and other breaks, it was wide open for long stretches !). Depending on the gearbox it might also be ligher than a Rotax 912, and a lot less expensive.

I would not mind one of those on my Rans :D

Fly safe,
Rudi

Hi Guys,
I have been looking at a nice coversion by Mister Chapelet on a GTE AC trike. Have a look at the pictures on my webiste.
http://www.flylight.eu/v1/2007/03/30/ai ... mw-engine/
The owner has taken it over Mont Blanc at 16K Ft and was having plenty of power left. I did the same with my 912 but nothing left, it was the max it would go.
I personally wouldn't hesitate to convert a two stroke trike in to a BWM four stroke. But......you must know what you are doing or ask a guy like Aardvark or Mr. Chapelet in France.
Cu
Joel

so here goes....... there is nothing wrong with a 912s wonderfull engine shit carbs but alot of people are happy so what can I say
now I fly a heavy trike ,just my trike and no wing is the same weight as a aerotrike and I am no light weight either and I have a 80l fuel tank and my BMW R1200 motor works like a dream ask any body in Cape Town about my plane and they will tell you the same as I just did .
some specs flat out 7000rpm ( redline on the bike is 8750rpm ask Rudix no problem with that
Cruise 5150rpm at 63mph 13l/h
has more power than one need ...... sorry talking kak one never hase enough power is like Rum
the old motor nothing the same as new motors (4valve motor) just give it a good size oil cooler if they work on a trike it will work on a 3-axis same weight as a 912s same hp if you find a good secondhand motor it work out a bit cheaper than a Rotax we sell the gearboxes and the injection is almost there all parts can be bought from BMW and no so bad and there is one on every corner

I love them smooth lots of power good o fuel and BMW started by building aircraft and boat motor (FW190) need to know more PM me

BMW Engines:

http://www.spang-air.de/
http://www.spang-air.de/willkommen/Welcome/welcome.html

Designed specifically around those engines.

Henni