Possible NEW Engine

[robpar]

http://www.adeptairmotive.co.za/site/default.asp

I have seen this before but lost track of them. It is an interesting design and has similarities to the still born Rotax engine.

Bob Parry

[N941WR]

A lot of engine companies have come and gone, none with the reputation of either Lycoming or Continental and yet, when they release a new engine they all seem to say, "The engine cost will be competitive with a new Lycoming or Continental engine of similar power output."*

I would think they should sell a number of their new engines at 1/2 the cost of a competitive Lycoming or Continental until they build up a good reputation. Granted that is expensive but it should be figured into the R&D costs.

That might entice more people to try out their engines, give them feedback, and build up a good reputation. Otherwise, the for the money the builder invests, he/she might think, "I should have bought a Lycoming/Continental for the same money and had a lot less installation and operational hassles."

Thoughts?

*Quote from Adept Airmotive's web site.

[RVbySDI]

Bill,
I agree with your thoughts on pricing structures of new engines. You state in your post a very important critical component of marketing a totally unproven product. That is, builders need to have a very good reason to "Go down the road less traveled".

If there is no motivation then we will not take the RISK. And the reality in the aviation world is that using a non-standard aviation engine for our experimental airplanes has a great amount of risk associated with that decision.

[iwannarv]

Its nice to see a liquid cooled v-style engine/psru specifically designed for aircraft, instead of just an automotive engine modified into an aviation setup. Although nothing can compare with the lycoming/continental reputation, it will be interesting to see if this company has any success when they install it on the SA Ravin 500.

[rv6ejguy]

The 120 degree V angle is interesting having been used by some Italian racing engine manufacturers. I like the clean sheet design and integral gearbox with coupler. Looks like they've used RP to keep production costs down.

It seems they are competing with Lycoming 540s here as they mention "race engine"- probably a reference to Red Bull competition engines. Seems they have a ready proving ground there to really show what the design can do- 11Gs and running the snot out of it.

I wish them well but hope that they have deep pockets after mentioning certification. That usually makes the unit cost go through the roof or dooms the whole project to failure.

[TSwezey]

I wonder if they would sell one for an experimental in the US.

[cawmd82]

"New" engine guys talk a better game than Texas high school football coaches in August.

Maybe one will get to December someday. MAYBE I will still be able to get a medical.

They are in South Africa--has to be an advantage: lots of innovation and not so many parasitic naysayers.

[pierre smith]

....that I read about on their site. Looks like it might have something to do with TV problem solving.

Thanks,

[Unkgd]

A cush (short for "cushion") drive is typically a coupling with several elastomeric inserts that engage protrusions between the drive and driven halves of the coupling. This is a common arrangement used in motor cycles and in diesel drive applications (amongst others). In the automobile world there is a similar system (comprised of springs and/or elastomeric inserts) used in the fact of the clutch disc on manual transmissions.

If you look at the top right side of their web page between the bull gear and the drive plate is a small cylinder. I believe that is one of the "cushions" that transmit power from the drive plate into the bull gear.
Regards,
Bill

[robpar]

I read a little on the "Cush" drive and have a question about it. They say that this will protect the engine from a prop strike! How would this work? Our test engine here uses a soft coupling between the engine and the dyno, this absorbs the considerable vibration and power pulses from a single cylinder diesel engine but I do not see how such a coupling could save the crank from something like a prop strike. To do that would you not need a shear pin or clutch? I would think that the weight and dependability of such a system would not be worth it for a light aircraft.

This is an interesting engine but I agree that if it hits the market at the same price as a Lycoming or Continental it likely will not be a market success.

Bob Parry