Hi Richard,
You didn't say where you do your flying. If you intend flying at
altitude like we do around the Sierra Nevadas, you might consider the
914 the best bet.
We have a mono-wheel XS with 912S and Airmaster prop. I would seriously
consider installing the 914 or Jabiru over the 912S, given our
experiences (we have over 400 hours on the plane/engine).
Issues I have with the 912S are:
1) It shakes the whole plane when starting and stopping, causing great
stress on any number of componants. Our exhaust system is in constant
need of repair because of this. An ignition wire probably broke because
of this. Standing outside the uncowled engine and watching the extreme
travel of the shaken componants can be a real eye opener. It is not
unusual to see +2G/0G on the panel mounted accelerometer following a
start or stop. I would guess the 912S is worse than the 914 because of
its higher compression. I would expect the Jabiru to be much smoother.
2) The 912S is a little anemic at high density altitudes. At 7,000+
feet the plane has difficulty accelerating past 55 knots on take off
until the gear/flaps are lifted a little. Climb rate at these altitudes
can also be lower than I would like.
3) The mixture becomes rich at altitude, negating the fuel economy
advantages of flying at altitude. The 914 is altitude compensating, and
I assume the Jabiru has a mixture control (?).
4) Although the Rotax is claimed to have a TBO of 1000 hours or greater
it is recommended that the gearbox be removed and sent in for check out
every 300-400 hours. There have also been suggestions that idling the
912S down to 1400 rpm can cause damage to the gearbox due to rough
idling. We idle our engine at about 1700-1800 rpm, which make the
landings a little hotter with the additional idle thrust.
just my two cents worth,
regards,
Terry Seaver
A135 / N135TD
Richard Sementilli wrote:
>
>I am down to 3 choices for an engine for my Europa.
>1. Rotax 912S
>2. Rotax 914
>3. Jabiru 3300
>
>I would like to get objective opinions and actual experiences from
>anyone about the pro's and cons of each engine.
>My first choice is the 914 because of the all around performance but
>more than the huge price, I am worried about the complexity of the
>engine as it relates to maintenance and overall reliability. I have
>spoken to a few mechanics for Rotax but none of them have any
>experience with the 914 turbo. They all say to keep it simple and go
>with the 912 or the 3300. I agree but I'm willing to stretch that goal
>if feel that I could handle the burden of its complexity.
>My most probable choice would be the 912S because it seems I can get
>great performance (the same or better than the Jabiru 3300) with
>relative ease of operation and mainenance, lighter weight, and
>comparable price to the Jabiru. I've even found a mechanic that is
>near (2 hours away) to my location. However, to the best of my
>research, it is still a more complicated engine and drive unit than
>the simple low reving Jabiru. It needs pump gas almost always, which
>may not be easy to come by during cross country flights.
>The Jabiru is the least expensive, most simple design, seems easier to
>maintain, and is direct drive. However, it's less proven, heavier and
>I can't find any repair facilities in the NY tristate area.
>Am I missing any other engine possibilities that could be even a better choice?
>
>
>
>
|