New aviation engine on the horizon for SA

[KFA]

Not sure about the valves but will find out. Yes it will work very lekka in an Explorer. Attached the power curve

[Mogas]

Nope, not side valve.
Overhead valves, 1 in and 1 out, pushrods with adjustable tappets. This being first generation it is quite simple in design, engineering is top drawer, mostly billet CNC. I expect that we will see hydraulic lifters in the not too distant future.
Plugs and filters are automotive.
As mentioned, the engine mount is the same as the Jab, as is the prop drive lug PCD common to Rotax, Jab, UL, etc.
To date there are more than 400 flying hours logged with no major snags I hear.
I don't particularly like water cooling but it seems that it is the way forward, a little birdie whispered in my ear that even Jabiru has an engine on the test-bed with water jackets on the heads.
Mogas

[justin.schoeman]

Nope, not side valve.
Overhead valves, 1 in and 1 out, pushrods with adjustable tappets.

Interesting - the discussion on rec-flying says it is a side-valve?

The water cooled Jab heads are after market - not Jabiru parts...

[KFA]

Personally I think it's irrelevant where the valves are situated. What matters is how it performs.

[Mogas]

Nope, not side valve.
Overhead valves, 1 in and 1 out, pushrods with adjustable tappets.

Interesting - the discussion on rec-flying says it is a side-valve?

The water cooled Jab heads are after market - not Jabiru parts...

Ok, closer look at the drawing suggests side valves, no wonder it is so narrow.
Not so sure we will not see water cooled heads from Jab, time will tell.

[avgas]

Lyk so Boet. Briggs & Stratton loop al jare lank so

[JvTonder]

Lyk so Boet. Briggs & Stratton loop al jare lank so

JY bedoel breek en staan

[Boet]

Nee, Breek en Stukkendbly!

[justin.schoeman]

It is interesting to see a flathead engine again, but they actually make perfect sense for aviation engines. They are compact, light and robust. Main drawbacks are:
1) loose efficiency rapidly with high RPM (no problem with direct drive aero engines)
2) cannot get high compression ratio (also not a problem for aero engines)
3) difficult to keep cool at high power levels (minor problem here, but can be dealt with by decent cooling design)
4) difficult to get decent fuel efficiency (this is a problem for aero engines - I would like to see real test numbers on this engine)

All in all, it should be a great configuration for an aero engine...

[KFA]

Description of the LF 26
Liquid-cooled, four-stroke.
Cylinder arrangement : 4 cylinders, horizontally
opposed.
One central camshaft-pushrods – OHV, Mechanic
lifters.
Liquid cooled cylinder head & cylinders.
Dual CDI (capacitive discharge ignition).
Electric starter.
Alternator.
Nikosil coated cylinders.
Dry sump forced lubrication.

So it seems it is a OHV engine after all