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ROTAX 912S

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RAY GIGNAC:
I have a power plant question?  Has anyone installed a rotax 912S on the long ez, or is this a bad idea? I currently fly with on on my Kitfox and works great!  

Ray :?

NWade:
Doesn't the 912 only put out like 85HP?  Seems a bit weak to me - but I'm not an EZ owner.  If anything it might work on a VariEze... However, the Long-EZ demands more than 85HP!

 - Just did some research, looks like the "S" version is boosted to 100 HP.  Again, that might work on a Vari; but is minimal for a Long.  Almost everyone I've ever talked to has at least an O-235 or O-320 on their Long-EZ.  O-360, in some cases; but that's more common on Cozy's.  

Rotaxes might be decent for light-sport aircraft - but neither the Long nor the Vari qualify as light-sport.  

Personally, for an alternative engine I'd put a Rotary on way before I tried a Rotax on a plane like the Long-EZ.  If you're going to have a gearbox / PSRU anyways, why not go with something that gives 130 - 160 HP and has few moving parts, with plenty of parts & cores available at reasonable prices?  As a race-car mechanic, I've worked a little on both Rotax 500's and RX-7's - and I'd rather have the rotary to deal with.  Rotax makes a fine engine, but the rotary to me is simple and gives more "Bang for the Buck".

Just my $0.02.

Take care,

--Noel

Larry:
I concur that the normally aspirated 912 is way underpowered for the Long-ez. The 912S is questionable as well. There is a dude, however, (I believe Glenn Sanders) who has installed a 914 turbo / in-flight adjustable pitch prop in a Varieze with stellar climb results. This would be a cross-country dream in the Long-ez… However it’s twice the cost of the 912 turbo. Have you considered an RX-8 Renesis? This seems to be the up and coming engine.

Glenn S:
Hello Ray
Section IIa of the LE plans calls for the installation of Cont. O-200.  If your building a light and simple plane like Burt had intended, then a Rotax 912uls (100 HP) would work. If your building a IFR speedster with all the creature comforts of home, then the 912uls is not what you're looking for.
 I'm running the 914 in my VE and am very pleased with the results. There is another builder who has purchased one for his Long and another Vari will be installing a 912uls about 30 miles from me.
Regards
Glenn Saunders
N914VE

aaron:
Glenn,

I flew with rotax engines in ultralights for a few years and loved them. I hever had a 4 stroke though. I'm curious as to the performance you are seeing with your 914VE? What prop?

Climb rate
Cruise speed
Fuel burn
Did you run into many problems making an engine mount and cowls?

Thanks for the info.

Aaron

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