Rotax 916 IS in a Bearhawk?

[Berniepiet]

At 160HP, 180 Lbs, and C/S prop option combined with long lead times on Lycoming-type engines, and MOSAIC allowing for C/S propeller, it could be an attractive alternative for an LSA or Patrol

Is anyone contemplating this option?

[Bcone1381]

Re: The Patrol….Do some math. I mean calculate the CG with a 160 pound motor. An O-360 is about 280 pounds without accessories and exhaust. I forecast 100 pounds off the nose would create problems with an aft cg.

[Mark Goldberg]

I think this new engine would be usable on a Patrol or Companion. Like Brooks says - the CG issue would have to be dealt with. But that seems possible.

Bernie - lead times at Lycoming are not that long except for the Thunderbolt program. This new Rotax is a little pricey but would seem to fill the need for an engine that can run on car gas for places where 100LL is very expensive or unavailable. Mark

[Tailwheelflyer]

The 916IS would work great in either the patrol or companion, while it wouldn't be a rocket at sea level compared to a lycoming 360, It would make for horsepower at anything over 4500 ft and maintain that to 15,000 ft. I suspect the Patrol would get some shockingly high true airspeed numbers at altitude with the 916up front. I think the CG issue is smaller than it looks on paper. The engine will have to sit forward a decent amount but nothing crazy, by the time you have all the computers and fuse box up front, battery, header tank, hydraulic three blade and a few others I think it will be pretty easy to get the CG in check.

[paulodonnell]

Think your Patrol would have need very long nose with that little Rotax.. am looking at some other options myself but was leaning initially towards UL Power's 520is or even their 520T.

Early days yet though as my Patrol SP kit is still in Marks depot in TX about to leave for Ireland! I'll probably chicken out in the end and pop in a io-360. Avgas here is over €3.00 per litre or $13.00 for one of your US gallons

Ohhhh... the anticipation is killing me!

[SkyHigh]

Hi Paul, have you locked in an engine decision yet? I'd love to hear from Patrol owners that have gone down the non Continental/Lycoming route.

[paulodonnell]

Yes I've gone for the 220hp UL 520, motor booked and on its way here soon... The factory are super helpful, and I visited and did their engine course there in Ypres. It just seems much more 21st century than those motors with carburettors, carb heat , manual mixture etc. , plus the pricing of the legacy engines is simply laughable at this stage and significantly more than the UL.

[Nev]

Awesome Paul. Really looking forward to hearing how the UL goes.

[svyolo]

At first I thought the 915'16 were pricey. But that price includes EFI/EI, electrical system for the engine, exhaust, starter etc. Add that in on a legacy motor, especially on the Certified side of aviation. The Rotax is a screaming deal. Too light? Throw in a CS prop, and hang the battery off the end of the engine mount.

[kuss]

For anyone really jonesing for a Rotax 916 in a Patrol, Kris Griewahn is the owner of Stol-it Aircraft in Tennessee, he's one of the new BH builder assist shops... Spoke with him at length at OSH and he's begging for someone to bring that combination to his shop...

[Utah-Jay]

For anyone really jonesing for a Rotax 916 in a Patrol, Kris Griewahn is the owner of Stol-it Aircraft in Tennessee, he's one of the new BH builder assist shops... Spoke with him at length at OSH and he's begging for someone to bring that combination to his shop...

I too talked to him at length about it, both he and Virgil are big believers in the Patrol / 916 combo

[Bcone1381]

It’s seldom I offer an opinion. I favor giving hard data. So this is rare. I would not want to stretch the nose forward because a loss in yaw stability in an aircraft (or just my Patrol or just me???) with minimal yaw stability.

but if the lighter engine was kept in a standard cowl with ballast to keep the aircraft’s CG at an acceptable position the you’d out perform with no consequences. No doubt.

[Utah-Jay]

Having had long discussions with Virgil, I am pretty sure (nearly positive) that he has this figured out without needing a really long engine mount.

My buddy has this combo on order, I think the kit arrives in January or February and he has a slot in Virgil’s build assist in Oklahoma

[kuss]

Can't wait to see this, hope your buddy is on the forum!

[gregc]

I am a skeptic I guess but a 160/137HP Patrol is not going to be anything special from a performance standpoint. There are probably some locations/missions where a 916 would make sense but I don´t see the purchase or operational cost differences to be significant for a $200K aircraft. Plus you get to be an early adopter with an engine the airplane wasn´t designed for.

[rodsmith]

I believe that is 160HP all the way to 15000'. Could be very useful for those flying in the mountains.

[gregc]

The 160HP is limited to roughly 5 minutes by the ECU. Continuous power is 137HP. The 160HP takeoff power at high elevations would be a significant gain. I see that Virgil has it on the website as a future engine option so at some point there may be a flying example.