Jay Maynard wrote:
I spent a day and a half at Sebring looking at aircraft. As I expected,
there are only a few that fit what I'm looking for. Of those, only one (the
AMD Zodiac XLi) uses a Continental engine. Everyone else (and, indeed,
nearly everyone else building an LSA period) uses Rotax 912s.

I'm not fond of the idea of flying behind a Rotax. I know there are lots of
them out there (although I doubt what one guy told me, that there have been
more flight hours on Rotax engines than there have been on Lycomings and
Continentals put together), and I know that lots of folks like them, but I'm
not at all sure they're for me.

I live in Fairmont, Minnesota, a town of 11000 50 miles from anything. I'd
like the local A&P to be able to do maintenance on the engine, and fix it if
it breaks. I also need to feed it a steady diet of 100LL, as every gallon of
automobile gas sold in Minnesota must have at least 10% ethanol (and that's
supposed to go up to 20% in 2010).

You will have more frequent plug and oil changes.
The 912 really wants to drink premium mogas. Out
here on the west coast, we've been running 5-10%
ethanol without any problems. Can't speak to your
situation though.

On the plus side, plugs cost $3/each and it only
takes an hour to do plugs and oil.

I'm told the Rotax runs fast (red line on the Tecnam Sierra I sat in was
5500 RPM, and supposedly everyone recommends idling no lower than 2500), and
that it has very tight tolerances, and demands lots of special tools. Yeah,
it's just different, not necessarily worse - but there's a difference
between that and an O-200, where if I find myself at some random field with
a mechanic, I can be confident he can at least get it running.

The top RPM will be limited by your prop pitch.
My plane never exceeds about 5100 rpm in cruise.
I still get 1000 fpm climb on a cold day and I'm
happy with the pitch.

2000 RPM idle is fine. 2500 is good for warmup.


The Zodiac's seating looks weird, although I'm reserving judgment until I
get to actually sit in one (the one they had at the show was being delivered
to a customer there today, so they didn't let anyone sit in it, and I didn't
get to go take a demo flight in the one they had there for that purpose).
I'd still like other options, but unless I'm convinced that the Rotax isn't
going to find itself at some point sitting in the hangar while the engine is
shipped off to another state for repair (or, worse, waiting on a replacement
cylinder that never comes because they're all being put on new engines),
there aren't any.

Can't speak to the Zodiac, but can talk all day
about the CTSW (:

Pluses for the Rotax are no thermal shock issues,
will allegedly run for 30 minutes at 50% power
with either oil or coolant gone, and 5 gallon/hr
cruise. The engine is also very smooth, especially
at an economical cruise setting. It starts very
easily. No mixture control. The engine just
behaves like a giant electric motor with a speed
control.

As for support, I've had no problems with my 912
so I don't have any direct experience. I know
that the west coast FlightDesign distributer has
worked closely with Rotax on some safety directive
issues and has gotten parts and support quickly.