Deltahawkengines

mlw450802 · #1 01-21-2005, 09:14 AM

I would like to start a thread on this engine. I am looking for any substantive inside info on their situation. I have studied the website religiously but still am not completely comfortable with the promises.
I do believe they are real with respect to the piston ported diesel but I am worried relative to the aircraft application.

The Thielert seems to have it's ducks lined up a little better but the Deltahawk is very attractive to me due to its simplicity.

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Highflight · #2 01-21-2005, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlw450802

I have studied the website religiously but still am not completely comfortable with the promises.
-Michael L.

I wouldn't fault the guys for not keeping promises because of the nature of the "program", but it certainly isn't coming along as quickly as someone following the project's progress might read into it.

Highflight

Supereri · #3 01-21-2005, 11:08 AM

I saw this engine in a recent issue of Kitplanes I think it was.
Wilksch Airmotive . It stated it was already flying and had logged about 200 hours in the plane in the last 12 months. It is only 120hp or 160hp but he said that customers were fitting it the the RV-7 -8 -9. Seems kinds of light on HP at 120hp, according to Vans published recomendations on some of these planes. He also said he was looking at producing a 200hp version. I would comment on the price as I remember it to be 22k for the 120hp version. The prices are listed on the webpage but, call me stupid, I don't know what a "?" is...

jclark · #4 01-21-2005, 11:21 AM

I tried to go to the site but it did not display.

The symbol looks like the symbol for Pounds (as in British "dollars").

If that is the case, with the current exhange rate, thsi seems to be a ****REALLY**** expensive engine at ?22,000 (or even at $22,000 as you can get a Lycoming equivalent for about that and you'd have 160 or 180 HP to boot!!)

Does it have a 5,000 hour TBO or something??

James

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supereri

I saw this engine in a recent issue of Kitplanes I think it was.
Wilksch Airmotive . It stated it was already flying and had logged about 200 hours in the plane in the last 12 months. It is only 120hp or 160hp but he said that customers were fitting it the the RV-7 -8 -9. Seems kinds of light on HP at 120hp, according to Vans published recomendations on some of these planes. He also said he was looking at producing a 200hp version. I would comment on the price as I remember it to be 22k for the 120hp version. The prices are listed on the webpage but, call me stupid, I don't know what a "?" is...

Supereri · #5 01-21-2005, 11:37 AM

Sorry, the 22k was in USD according to the article in Kitplanes. The site lists the 120hp version at 12K ? and the 160hp version at 16k ? both prices plus "VAT".

"(or even at $22,000 as you can get a Lycoming equivalent for about that and you'd have 160 or 180 HP to boot!!)"

Yes, but this is a deisel and runs Jet A. Maybe this is more important in Europe due to the cost of AvGas vs Jet A? It is also a turbcharged engine, so the performance might be better at altitude. The article also stated that the 120hp engine burns about 5.5gph, not sure how this compares to the Lycoming equivalent. The writer of the article mentioned that fuel burn for thier 30 minute flight was 2.6 gallons.

mlw450802 · #6 01-21-2005, 12:41 PM

The wilksh airmotive diesel is interesting also but different from Deltahawk. The Deltahawk is US and starts at 160 hp. It also is turbo/supercharged and retails for $23,500 USD.

www.Deltahawkengines.com

Rotary10-RV · #7 01-21-2005, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlw450802

The wilksh airmotive diesel is interesting also but different from Deltahawk. The Deltahawk is US and starts at 160 hp. It also is turbo/supercharged and retails for $23,500 USD.

www.Deltahawkengines.com

Group,
The Deltahawk is flying in Velocity. (Conventional upright) Deltahawk has a running inverted-v not yet flying. The engine is a 2-stroke diesel so it MUST have a boosted (supercharged) start. They have done a good development program and the engine seems to be running well. A bit pricy.
The Wilksich is a 2-stroke diesel also and is also supercharged/turbocharged. The 3 cylinder is at about the same level of testing as the Deltahawk. The engine was built inverted to start with.
I believe the Deltahawk will be a good engine, albeit full aircraft priced. If you don't want to fabricate anything stay with a Lyc. Either of these engines will require engineering to put in. One thing no one mentions EXCEPT Deltahawk is that the venting of your tanks needs to be different for Diesel/Jet-A. SO there is a lot to learn about any of the Diesel apps.
Bill Jepson

Highflight · #8 02-18-2005, 04:48 AM

It's noted on their website that a major milestone was reached on January 10: They reset their website hit counter to zero.

That must be pretty important if it was determined that news like that needed it's own announcement and all.

There's been no news since then, but I'm sure they're working hard on something.

Not really interested, but it's fun to watch "new technology" when it comes up.

mechdawg · #9 04-07-2005, 09:37 AM

Hey all this is my first post but am interested in the subject. I Will be ordering my RV-7 Emp kit next month. Like most poeple on here I have been researching all engine combos for what seems like forever and Im sure my opinion will keep on changing as time goes. I did contact Deltahawk to ask them if anyone was working on firewall forward kits for the RV's. The response was to take my email address down and forward it to someone they say is building a 7A who is about to install his deltahawk and see if he will respond to me. If anyone out there knows of anyone who is putting one in I would like to here what was involved.
Thanks
Tim Piscitelli

Dave_Boxall · #10 04-08-2005, 06:22 AM

I spoke to Wilksch early this week as I have a deposit down on a 120 HP engine for my RV-9A. Wilksch are now producing engines at around 3 per week and hope to increase the production rate further. They have 2 engines flying, one in a Europa and one in a Thorp T211, a LongEze installation has just had its ground runs. At least two people in the UK are progressing with 9A installations, and with any luck at least one should be flying this summer. There are RV installations in progress for the 160HP, but 160 HP engine is not scheduled for production until later this year.

European fuel costs make these engines very attractive. Here in the UK 100LL is around $7 / gallon and AVTUR around $2.5 / gallon.

Dave