Engine Options
Notes regarding the engine
It is a bit early for me to think about the engine. Nevertheless I decided to start collecting information about my options in this regard. The main reason for me to look around is that the VAN’s recommended engine is extremely expensive for my liking.
The recommended engine – Rotax 912 ULS – costs $27750 USD on VANs website. (Including firewall-forward stuff)
If I were to order it now (August 2016) it would cost me about $43000 AUD including shipment to Australia and all the custom duties. Ouch!!!
Summary
| Rotax 912 ULS | Jabiru/Camit | Viking 110 | Aeromomentum AM15 | UL260iS | O-200* | |
| Price (just the engine) | 28000 USD 37300 AUD |
13500 USD 18000 AUD |
12000 USD 16000 AUD |
12000 USD 16000 AUD |
. 21000 AUD |
. 12000 AUD |
| FWF stuff | ~12000 USD included above |
6000 USD 8000 AUD |
6000 USD 8000 AUD |
6000 USD 8000 AUD |
6000 USD 8000 AUD |
6000 USD 8000 AUD |
| Delivery to Australia, MEL # | 5500 AUD | 1000 AUD | 4000 AUD | 4000 AUD | 4500 AUD | 1000 AUD |
| Total $ | 42800 AUD | 27000 AUD | 28000 AUD | 28000 AUD | 33500 AUD | 21000 AUD |
| Weight with accessories | 82 kg | 81 kg | 102 kg | 90 kg | 73 kg ??? | 100 kg |
| Fuel injection | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Dual ignition | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cooling | Liquid | Air | Liquid | Liquid | Air | Air |
| . |
* – used engine
# – including import taxes
Here are my options:
Rotax 912 ULS secondhand
Vans can exclude the engine from the Engine Kit that will reduce the cost by $15750 USD.
That makes FWF kit cost about $19000 AUD delivered.
So to make the cost similar to Jabiru.Camit/Viking options I need to find a used Rotax for about 10000 AUD. Not sure if it is possible,
Possible candidate:
564***4 was produced 06-Feb-2007
ROTAX 912 ULS
912 ULS2
309****10
- without fuel lines
- UL2 I=2,43 with clutch
- without vacuum pump
- with green valve covers
- without mech. tachom. pick up
- without external generator
- without air guide baffle
- with std. temperatur sensors
- with nipple conn. for oil pump
- with expansion tank
- without air box
- without engine truss
- starter large
Viking
Viking 110 – my engine of choice at this stage.
http://www.vikingaircraftengines.com/
The engine is conversion from the well known Honda engine installed on Honda Fit (called Honda Jazz in Australia). As far as I understand it is L15A engine.
The engine seems to be around for about two-three years. At this stage all reports on the internet are positive.
Engine cost $12000 USD.
Firewall-forward kit for RV-12 is another $6000 USD
Engine monitor – Viking View – $1400 USD. or DIY ~$300 AUD
So all up $17400 USD.
My concerns:
The engine has not been around long enough. As far as I know there are maybe a dozen of people with 200-300 hours on the engine. So reliability is not confirmed yet. I guess by the time I’m ready for the engine installation there will be much more statistic information available.
Update October 2015:
It looks like Viking changed the core for the engine. They use different Honda engine now, apparently lighter and more powerful. They also include dual ignition as an option. The price has come up to $12000. Not sure if they started delivering the engine.
Aeromomentum
http://www.aeromomentum.com/am15.html
ULPower
There are a few engines with 100-110HP.
| Model | HP | Weight, kg | Comment | Price Euro |
| UL260i | 97 | 72.3 | Fuel: Auto 95 | 14700 |
| UL260iS | 107 | 72.3 | Fuel: Auto 98 | 15800 |
| UL350i | 118 | 78.4 | Fuel: Auto 95 | 18800 |
| UL350iS | 130 | 78.4 | Fuel: Auto 98 | 19600 |
It looks like ULpower USA has something to do with making FWF kits for RV12. http://www.ulpower.net/
This is the picture gallery of the guy who makes the FWF kit https://picasaweb.google.com/111690756223683866568/ScrapbookPhotos
I’m chaising this up at the moment.
There is a company in Australia importing these engines http://corvusaero.com.au/UL-Power.html
As of August 2015 the UL260is is $20240 AUD(!) including GST. Freight is not included. I need to get a quote from them.
Jabiru
The engine has developed bad reputation recently due to series of in-flight failures. CASA got really concerned and imposed a bunch of restrictions on the aircrafts with this engine. Hopefully the issues will be resolved and the engine will worth consideration. Not at this stage though.
Not sure if anyone designed FWF kit for RV-12 with Jabiru. There are a few RV-12s flying with Jabiru in US. So potentially Jabiru can be a good alternative.
Low hours second-hand Jabiru 3300 (120HP) costs around $12000 – $14000 AUD
Engine weight 84kg
Update October 2015.
With Australian dollar steadily going down passing 0.7 mark, I’m starting looking into Jabiru 3300 option more seriously.
It looks like all the engine’s shortcomings can be dealt with. Good people from Rotec developed the solution for 3 major issues:
1. Rear cylinders’ cooling problem has been addressed with water-cooled heads
2. Cold start issue has been fixed by replacing one of the magnetos with electronic ignition.
3. Somewhat anemic 15A alternator can be replaced with 40A car alternator with the upgrade kit developed by Rotec.
Details are here: http://www.rotecaerosport.com/products/
Interesting and scary reading: http://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php/t-532232.html
There is a modification of the Jabiru engine manufactured by another company – CAMIT – http://camitaeroengines.net/
It looks exactly the same. It has better alternator, different alloy for heads and has a few other improvements.
Price for the 6 cyl 120HP engine is $18000 AUD – very nice!
Continental O-200
Good old proven certified engine. Large secondhand market. Not sure about FWF kit availability
Electronic injection version available – IOL-200
Power: 100HP
Weight: 77kg (dry, no accessories)
Price: ???
Continental O-240
Good old proven certified engine developed in 1971. Large secondhand market. Not sure about FWF kit availability
Electronic injection version available – IO-240
Power: 125HP
Weight: 116kg (dry, no accessories)
Price: ???
Lycoming O-235
Another good old certified engine. Large secondhand market.
Power: 120HP
Weight 109kg (dry, no accessories)
Price:???
Rotax 912 ULS
In order to be fair and consistent in my analysis of the engine options I’m including the “recommended” option here.
Rotax 912ULS is certainly a great 100HP engine with huge number of them flying and great reliability records. Well, hence the price.
Engine itself costs $18000 USD
VANs package with FWF and all the mounting and wiring stuff costs $28730 USD
Engine weight: 56.6 kg