Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this discussion via this forum or
directly to me via email.
I particularly appreciate hearing from those who have tried an alternative
installation.
If money were no object I'd just buy the Rotax. I realise that installing an
alternative
engine will be more work and take more time. My challenge is to assess
the extra build time vs how long it would take me to save for the Rotax and
also add in a risk factor to allow for the extra risk in going for an
alternative
engine.
There are a number of positives with the Aeromomentum engine:
* The designers are engineers
* In one of his videos the subject of torsional vibration is addressed
* When I asked Aeromomentum about using the engine on a Europa Mark checked the
Europa build manual for the engine install before replying - the man does his
research
* Aeromomentum have been around for a number of years, starting with jetboats
then
moving to airboats and finally aircraft. One of their airboat engines lasted
to 4,000 hours before lack of maintenance finally broke it
Also as I'm in NZ I have ready access to Airmaster so I am confident that an
appropriate
Prop will not be an issue.
Fortunately I'm in the position where I won't at the point of having to decide
on an engine for a little while so I can continue to watch engine developments
before I make my decision.
Thanks again for all who have contributed and I'd appreciate hearing further
from
anyone with direct experience in using alternative engines (on a Europa or
other aircraft).
peterz@zutrasoft.com wrote:
> Indeed a new installation is alot of work....no question. Sadly the jabiru
> engines
have always been under performers with many technical issues. There are
however very well designed alternatives, such as the ULpower engines. If the
smaller UL was turbo-normalized to 130hp (design rating of the longer stroke
derivative
- same heads), with inverted oil, it would be a strong alternative to
the rotax, with less complexity.
>
> The D-motor is also an intriguing design, with minimized parts count and light
weight....although they will likely end up on the trash heap of other designs
such as the gemini junker diesel after being squashed by rotax.
>
> The only point i am trying to make is that there are potential alternatives.
My perfect engine would be the 915iS......if one can ignore/tolerate rotax's
part price gouging policies.
>
> Cheers and blue skies,
> Pete
>
>
> > On Jul 16, 2017, at 7:17 PM, AirEupora wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > I'd think long and hard about going to a different engine combination.
> > Those
of us who have put a different engine on, had a lot of extra work. I put
a Jabiru on mine, It came with an engine mount and cowling. The first engine
mount was the wrong one, the cowling had to be modified to fit correctly, the
shape was wrong for the oil cooler and there no draw to put air out of the cowl.
The Jabiru plenum chambers didn't fit correctly and had to be modified a
lot. There was no customer support as the gentleman that I it bought from went
out of business and the factory was 12,000 miles away and about ten time zones.
The engine was cheaper, but weigh 54 lbs. more than the Rotax 912, The
Jabiru was $18.7K Rotax 912 was $24K. I use about 1.5 gallons more per hour
than the 912 going the same speed.
> >
> > I have had four years of headaches, Just now, I almost have a good flying
plane. That 54lbs, when I bough it. I didn't think to much about it, but now
having gained 40 lbs, My plane is a 1/1/2 person plane.
> >
> > Build it light and keep it light
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Read this topic online here:
> >
> > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=471077#471077
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=471154#471154
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