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Comment by Bob McDonald on July 28, 2015 at 6:55am

The Rotax 912S (100 hp) has been flying for several years with the compression lowered, and a Rotax 914 turbo & exhaust installed. Rotax did not formally launch the engine because it would kill the Rotax 914 sales. It also produces 135 hp in a proven design. Rotax marketing hates to compete with another Rotax so this carbed version is not likely to see production.... but it is out there and currently flying for several years.

Comment by Mark Maltais on July 27, 2015 at 1:27pm

Hi Joe,

No offense taken. LOL I Never said I didn't like them, I think they are well made engines. Problem is they don't have much competition and that dictates the price. Smaller makers like UL or Jabiru have small markets. They don't sell many so the price has to go up to turn a profit and that's understandable. Right now they have a choke hold on the LSA market and they know it. Good for them. But that makes them the "Apple" of the aircraft engine world IHMO.

Rotax is HUGE, with massive R&D capabilities, tons of different products and a huge distributors network. Usually when you make and sell more product you can reduce the price... No way should this thing be as expensive as my truck, nor should my iPad be $1000 either... :(

Not begrudging Rotax, like Apple, they can sell it for whatever they want, it's a free market but I won't be one buying them at that price. I wouldn't buy a Harley either for that same reason...

Comment by Joe Harrington on July 26, 2015 at 10:48pm

Mark, I see comments like yours all the time and being a 912iS owner I feel compelled to defend Rotax(I guess, defend my decision to spend my hard earned money on a Rotax...). Yes, aircraft engines are priced much higher than mass produced consumer goods including automobiles, motorcycles, etc. In my experience Rotax is not priced any more that other design-for-aircraft engines. Two years ago, my CH601XLB (which I own with a partner) with a Continetal C85 (with 0-200 cylinders) started running rough part way through a 3 hour cross country. I was lucky to make it home but the engine was toast. This was not fault against the engine. It was something several owners before unscrupulously slapped together with run out parts. Anyway, we went on the hunt for a replacement. At that time, the CAD/USD dollars were at par. We started looking for a good used 0-200 but finding something that was “for-sure” a good engine proved to be much more elusive that we first thought. So we priced out a new Continental 0-200D which is the lightweight uncertified 0-200. The best price we could get on it was $26,200 USD FOB Mobile, Alabama. We have quite a few 912 operating around here and they all seem to have few problems so we thought about changing the powerplant over to a 912 ULS. The price at that time was $21,200 CAD. Exactly $5000 less for the basic engine. I think the 0-200 came with mags, an alternator and carbs but I know it did not come with exhaust or any other accessories. The 912 also come with these same accessories. Yes, I know the Rotax needs a rad and oil cooler (the 0-200 needs one also IMO),  but those don’t cost $5000. What do you lose by having the Rotax? In our experience the reliability of the Rotax is unmatched. The power to weight ratio is much better, better specific fuel consumption, and the Rotax seem to pull much harder. 

We ended up going with a used 0-200 because it was less expensive than buying a new engine and was going to be lots of work to changed over to a Rotax. We found a 1000 hour 0-200 from a member of this forum who is also an A&P. He checked the engine for us and ended up replacing the cylinders with used yellow tagged cylinders. Both he and our AME here on our field say it is common to have to go through the top end on 0-200s at 1000 to 1500 hours. The engine has turned out to be good but in the end we had to take the sellers word on faith.

Yes, Rotaxs are expensive but so are other aircraft engines. The big difference is that there are a lot of used engines and parts for Continentals and Lycomings which is not the case with Rotax. But you are also buying used engines and parts. That is okay for most but let’s compare apples to apples. I don’t see Rotaxs are priced any worse than Continental or Lycoming.

BTW, if one compares apples to apples with the UL Power with the Rotax, the UL Power does come out favourably (fuel injected to fuel injected). I suspect that UL Power is priced accordingly to help gain access and market share in the industry. If these engines prove out over the long term and remain priced currently, I am sure they will gain ground on Rotax.

In the mean time, I would already have a pre-order in for a 915iS if I could afford it. But I cant...:-(  I am sure YMMV.

Comment by Mark Maltais on July 26, 2015 at 2:30pm

Price will likely be insane like most Rotax products... :( but it would be damn nice to have...