What is a Rotax aircraft engine?
The Rotax 912 is a horizontally-opposed four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated, four-stroke aircraft engine with a reduction gearbox. It features liquid-cooled cylinder heads and air-cooled cylinders. Originally equipped with carburetors, later versions are fuel injected. BRING YOUR DREAMS. WE’VE GOT THE POWER. Rotax engines are famous for their reliability and best-in-class power-to-weight ratio.The Rotax 1630 engine platform offers legendary reliability with minimal maintenance requirements. It has been designed to endure the harsh marine environment for long enjoyable days on the water. Thanks to ACE technology, the Rotax ACE 1630 offers industry-leading fuel economy.BRP Rotax engines are known as industry-defining power plants with strong, responsive power delivery, leading fuel and oil economy, and an indisputable reputation for reliability. From heart-pounding horsepower, to clean, efficient utility strength, there’s a BRP Rotax engine designed specifically for your needs.Rotax has more than 10,000 engines on the registry, but only about a third of those were the 912 and 914 four-cylinders we were interested in. Based on our data, the overall Rotax failure rate is 1.Pros: Robust and Reliable According to Rotax themselves, the ideal engine rebuild interval to ensure reliability is 40 hours, which, compared to IAME and ROK which have an engine rebuild interval of 15-20 hours, does not even come close to the Rotax’s reliability.
What is so special about a Rotax engine?
Rotax engines are famous for their reliability and best-in-class power-to-weight ratio. Versatile, cost-efficient, and easy to use and maintain, Rotax engines have gained the trust of flight schools, home builders, and aircraft manufacturers alike. These engines offered high thrust to weight; albeit,at the expense of fuel consumption (a typical Rotax 503 or 582 burns four gallons an hour of automotive fuel at cruise power), and they offer less reliability than four-stroke engines. A Rotax 582 at 65hp and just over 100 lbs provides excellent power to weight.Rotax 1630 ACE – 130 engine This powerful engine delivers 130 hp of pure fun with crisp acceleration while offering incredible fuel economy. It offers the perfect harmony between both world.Rotax four-stroke engines differ from conventional four-stroke aircraft engines by their unusually small displacement for the amount of power — compensated for by higher than normal rotational speed (over 5,000 rpm).