Thunderbird - BMW R1200 Engine

[wulf21]

Hi Air Hog,

I'm scratch building a Zenith CH-701 in Australia and very interested in using the R1200 motor.

Had a look at your video of running the engine up, that reduction drive is very neat work.

Just interested if you had any problems with vibration? If so, how did you overcome it?

Because I'm not very capable with engineering, I'm looking at "off the shelf" systems such as the gearing offered by Take Off (http://www.takeoff-ul.de). However everyone I've spoken to about them say it's hard to get a reply from the company. Do you know of any others that do the conversion?

Thanks for your help,

Marty

[Air Hog]

Short video of test flight: http://youtu.be/ifNVKydWJ1Y

[caneco]

congratulations..have a many safe flying hours..

[IceAge]

Johan,

Congrats. We hope you will have many hours of joy with her.

Deon

[Tribal Croc]

Well done Air Hog many many happy hours in her

Jy sal moet kom wys

[Air Hog]

Well done Air Hog many many happy hours in her

Jy sal moet kom wys

Thanks TC, wil come for a visit. Just have to do 25 hours chop chop before I can get ATF. Trust me, it will be chop chop.

[Boet]

Ek soek asseblief die dia van die centre boss!! Dan kan ek hom pos. Dankie Johan.

[shiny new wings]

How is the BMW performing in the long term?

[Air Hog]

Finally, all sorted. Now ready to fly. Will start serious testing this week.

[ZU-JVH]

Would like to talk to you re. the BMW conversion...will you e-mail me you tel number... africa 4x4 at iburst dot co dot za.
Rgds
Johan

[AndyCAP]

Hi airhog may i ask what the delay has been? You had the motor running quite a long while ago? How many hours have you flown? How is th BMW performing? Are you using OupaG's components or is the engine your own conversion?

thanks!

[AWACS]

Hi Johan,
Stunning job! Well done!

Many happy landings!

[Air Hog]

Hi airhog may i ask what the delay has been? You had the motor running quite a long while ago? How many hours have you flown? How is th BMW performing? Are you using OupaG's components or is the engine your own conversion?

thanks!

Hi AndyCap
I am busy with 2 projects at this stage and my first priority was the Skyjeep so we did not spend much time on the Tbird. The problem we had was a vibration. We had to experiment with the engine mount rubbers. This is now sorted and it is running very smooth.
Performance wise, this TBird is a monster. It climbs at well over 800 ft/min and that is in cruise climb. I am still getting used to it so am taking it easy. The amazing thing is the fuel consumption, at a cruise RPM of 5200, I am getting less than 11 l/ph. I am still calibrating the fuel flow meter but am not out much. Speed wise, did not gain much, the Tbird remains a Drag monster. At 5200 rpm is about IAS 70-72 mph BUT then at 11 l/ph. Compare to the 16-19 l/ph previously. Makes a big difference.
I am using components supplied by Takeoff UL in Germany.

Well, at last she is home at Kroon

Home at Kroon airfield

At Kroon.jpg (47.72 KiB) Viewed 10802 times

[IceAge]

And just to show that she is actually flying....................

She also has a very distinct 'growl' that is definitely not 583 or 912.................

[Tribal Croc]

And just to show that she is actually flying....................

BMWThunderbird.jpg

She also has a very distinct 'growl' that is definitely not 583 or 912.................

Well done

Kry haar so lank reg vir Margate Mei 2014