Since well before I began my RV-12 project I have followed Jan Eggenfellner's progress in his development of the 100 HP Honda Fit engine, which he has dubbed the Viking. I actually saw it in person at the 2010 Sun 'n Fun flyin where it was mated to a flying Zenith 601 and was relatively impressed with it back then. The refinements have continued and since then he's sold quite a few to builders of the Sonex, Waiex, Highlander, SeaRay and a plethora of other aircraft including some gyros, and of course, a few RV-12's.
Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Rotax 912S...with the exception of the price! I even flew behind one for 14 years and almost 500 hours in my previous sport aircraft, an Ultravia Pelican, shown below. It was a fine engine and served me well.
But I just can't bring myself to justify a $30,000 expense for the powerplant, especially when the Viking is looking to be about half that price. I have never had any issue with building the RV as experimental amateur built in lieu of ELSA. The use of the Viking engine will facilitate a lot of experimental aviation and what I hope to be a bit light engineering to incorporate it into an already excellent airframe kit.
Yesterday, I placed a deposit with Viking Aircraft Engines for an August 2013 delivery engine.
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