Experience with the Lockwood Rotax 916 Package

[dothedr3w]

I did the 25 hours in the last 15 days and I'm loving it. It has met all my expectations so far. Nothing has been overstated.

Sorry, I put this in a new thread and forgot to reply

How much longer did they need to make the nose of the plane to offset CG. Impossible to tell from pics, but looks like 18" or so to my eye

 

[Frankster]

They moved the engine forward 14". This does not match the previous C of G, it places it in a new further forward location. As an example I can carry myself, 200lbs, my 185lb buddy, 100 lbs of luggage in the back and full fuel and I am in the center of the envelope. I am at an empty C of G of 76.4

 

[Prof D]

Sounds like an awesome engine for the platform! What's your empty weight?

 

[Frankster]

It's 1066lbs. Typical aircraft fitting like mine with an O320 would come in about 1150

 

[Frankster]

This is the C of G loaded for KOSH as an example.

 

[BigCat77]

Yes, I too was/am concerned about flutter and I asked Lockwood about that, but I just can't remember what we discussed. I do know that they apparently, along with Van's I believe (but don't quote me on that) have spin tested it, and it checked out well. My current understanding is that Vne is always a True Airspeed, but I could be wrong.

I'm also thinking about possible mountain wave gust/G loading at altitude & speed. In fact (save the negative comments), I'm even "considering" a chute since it makes my wife happy & we are talking about the bleeding edge here for experimental. Per Lockwood, there is a net 80 lbs of savings so it maybe would be a wash, but I have not looked into it yet, especially how it may impact the CG that they worked so hard to keep centered by extending that nose. Not to mention, this makes the costing math even worse, as in might as well just go buy a VL-3 or even a Sling, or a ...?

Thanks for the info on the 9a Sidewinder. I did see that, but that airframe work is a bridge too far for me to cross, as I will be at my patience and technical limits just with the firewall forward and panel stuff. I'm in S. Fl. close to Lockwood, so I asked if they would just do a conversion for me, but the said they don't currently have the resources, but may one day consider that as an option.

RV9A for sale with sidewinder?? Who, where?

 

[BigCat77]

There is a 9a for sale with a sidewinder on it if you want a project airframe

RV9A for sale with sidewinder?? Details?

 

[Frankster]

If you can make it through all the ads, here's another walkaround of the Rotax. I'd still love the setup, but my stomach flips a bit with the cost. Maybe plane #2.

RV9A Rotax

This video is me with my RV916a