ALTERNATIVE AVIATION ENGINE

[zudpl]

We are going to install the M 160 Smart Car engine in our Zenair 701. Here are the stats:

Stroke/Bore(mm) 68/66
Cylinders/Valves 3cyl: 2 valves per cylinder
Spark plugs (per cylinder) 2
Engine weight per DIN (kg) 57
Max. torque (Nm) 110 at 2000-4750 RPM
Max. power output (kW) 60 at 5200 RPM

Max continuous RPM 5800 RPM
Max. short time RPM 6000 RPM

[grostek]

Had a look at the website of the Manufacturer.

http://www.ecofly.de/english.htm

Seems like a smart way to go.(if you will excuse the pun)

Motor is cheaper than the 912 Rotax

Gives max power from sea level up to 2500m (8202ft)

Uses less fuel per hour than the Rotax

Is fitted as standard in a production aircraft

AND a TBO of 2500 Hours.

Now that makes economic sense.

Can you give us an idea of your landed cost in South Africa please zudpl

Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek.

[Rudix]

The Smart looks good BUT it is more expensive than the Jabiru for the same power

[zudpl]

Hi, we are not installing the EcoFly version as they are quite expensive and we did not consider diesel as a viable option.....Really. Ours is the 700 cc # cyl Turbo'd Petrol version as marketed by a company called RamphosUSA Inc. Again, our engine is a locally sourced one and from a Smart Roadster that was wrecked. One has to be SMART in Africa , everything from overseas looks good on paper, but we always get nailed with the Exchange Rates and Shipping costs.

Jah! Engine management will be either the one provided with the motor or a third party solution.A locally manufactured Re Drive will be custom made for us according to our requirements.

I estimate our eventual cost for this engine to be in the Upper 20 Thousand when finally converted. We should be moving fairly quickly on this as we want to be flying by August so feel free to ask any questions you have, these engines have fantastic power to weight ratios and are of very good quality, naturally being a Merc engine . Do not get me wrong, I have nothing against Rotax engines, I like them, but I can't afford it and the money that we save can go into other things like GRS Parachutes and better Avionics.

Ciao

[crashtestdummy]

Hasnt prof Grootepas already done this all by himself on his trike I think

[grostek]

Hi Zudpl,

What type of Redrive are you thinking of fitting, belt type or gearbox.

Then what are you doing to minimise torsional vibration.

I read on a website from Canada (cant find the link) that converting the 3 cyl suzuki engine looked real good on paper and the motor gave real good torque when converted but the torsional vibration gave the redrive a life only something like 30 hours.

They then switched their efforts to the 4 cyl Suzuki engines and the torsional vibration was tamed by the same Redrive sytem. Apparantly they discovered that 3 cyl and 4 stroke with a Redrive was not a good combination.

If I remember correctly they used a gearbox sourced from some eastern european country.

This is another company doing conversions for the Suzuki engine, but not the company I am refering to above,they seem to have a successfull 3 cyl conversion.

http://www.raven-rotor.com/html/redrive.html

Please keep us informed how your project is coming along.

Finally what is the reason you did not consider a diesel version?

Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek.

[Trikenut]

The HKS is a great engine.
7-10 Litres per hour!

Regards

[John Boucher]

CHECK THIs OUT.......

http://www.pro-composites.com/

and put one of these in anyone of them.....

http://www.rotaryae.com/

And then you can also say you own a V-tail albeit not a Bonnie!

[grostek]

The 65HP Rotary has an advertised TBO of 500Hrs .

This is not a lot.

Has anybody got any idea what the BMW Coversion will have as TBO?

Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek.

[John Boucher]

Hi Gunther

You are spot on about the TBO of the rotary. However if you look at the amount of movong parts to be replaced at TBO then then it pales in comparison to the Rotax. The total rebuild after 500 hours equates to +- R 40-00 per hour. We can always do a 1 on 1 though.

I was more interested in the 120hp option!

[grostek]

Hi John,

The website was larger than my screen and have just now moved the website to the left and discovered a column for the overhaul costs.

(Ja nou is ek piering oog )

I went directly to the Rotamax site and they are showing higher TBO on the 650 engine
1000 Hours for the Carb 650 engine
1500 Hours for the EFI 650 engine

1000 Hours for the 1300 Carb model
1500 Hours for the 1300 EFI model

These hours seem to have been met by testing to ASTM standards

Begining to look better all round.

This engine costs about the same as a volla conversion from Great Plains Aircraft.

So price wise very good , Weight wise veeery good, Overhaul costs beer money!!!!

Have send them an e-mail asking what a complete engine with all accessories fitted will weigh because I want to know if that 110 lbs is for a complete running engine. and if motors are available right now.

Kind regards,
Gunter Rostek





http://www.rotamax.net/

[John Boucher]

Gunther

Let us know what they say.....

The 1300EFI unit is ideal for the Personal Cruiser or Vision aircraft....

What is important about this is that there ARE serious alternatives to the Bombardier Rotax Product range and they are possibly superior in offering, cost and TBO departments!

[grostek]

Hi John ,

Will keep you updated as soon as they reply.

Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek.

[John Boucher]

Hiya Gunter (got the spelling right this time )

Thanks... I think there are a lot of chaps out there that are curious about the costing albeit not for trikes but for the 3-axis solutions!

Little bit hot in Dubai I see...

Cheers!

JB

[grostek]

Yip 38 degrees this arvie with 66 % humidity..

Still no answer from Rotamax.

Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek