Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike Ice on August 15, 2011 at 9:10pm

Dan,

 

How exciting. You must be really getting anxious. Please keep me posted.

 

Congratulations,

 

Mike

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Permalink Reply by Mark Maltais on October 12, 2011 at 1:41pm

Any updates on this?  I'm looking for an engine as well and the numbers on this are sweet.  Been to the viking site and other forums.  There have been lots of complaints on the Subaru conversions that egg did previously but it really looks like he got this one right!!!  Only concern I would have is the reduction unit, but he apparently has 250+ hours on one now with no issues! So far it's looking real promising...

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Permalink Reply by Mike Ice on October 13, 2011 at 8:58am

Hi Mark,

 

I read about the Viking and some of Jan's comments make me cringe. I have sent him emails that he does not answer or post.

 

Dan Stanton is the only person that I have heard of that is or has installed a Viking in a 750. I wish he would keep us updated on his installation although I am sure he is very busy.

 

What I would really like to know about the Viking is the actual real weight of the installation.

 

Mike

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Permalink Reply by Paul Sanders on October 13, 2011 at 9:25am

Yeah, I really like the look (and the price!) of the Viking but I get the same feeling as you when I read Jan's comments on the Viking Yahoo! group. But I deal with a lot of similar people in the software industry and I still use their products so I'm not sure that it will put me off. And fortunately I have plenty of time to see how the engine shakes out before I am buying anything.

 

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Permalink Reply by Mark Maltais on October 13, 2011 at 4:24pm

There is now quite a few videos on you tube and such about this engine and the installs, it sounds great and seems really smooth.  Some of the videos have customers who talk about them and so far I have not heard any negatives.  Saw a good video on the reduction unit from the dude that makes them in MN.  Looks solid and well designed.  Engineering looks good as well and apparently runs at like 130f.  It's cooled by the flywheel behind it.  I'm starting to believe!!  It will probably be a year or so before I'm ready for an engine so hopefully by then more of them will be flying with a lot more hours on the reduction gear. Here's hoping....

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Permalink Reply by Dan Stanton on November 21, 2011 at 6:22pm

Mike, I will have some numbers very soon.Had some problems to work thru and the usual changes I did not forsee, but things are now going well ( I think/hope). If the weather is OK I will try again Tues morning. 11/22.

 

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Permalink Reply by Mike Ice on November 21, 2011 at 7:44pm

Hi Dan,

 

That would be wonderful. I hope your new Viking works out to be the best thing that ever happened to aviation.

 

It was -14 here the other morning, all thoughts of flying are on hold until spring.

 

Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving

 

Mike

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Permalink Reply by Mark Maltais on November 26, 2011 at 10:02am

Got the Viking Install video from Homebuilthelp (free from them because I bought so many other videos) and a few things of note....

The engines dual "computers" are set up with old fashion fuses on his electrical bus.  He says (Egg) they are done that way because you don't want to replace them in flight?  I don't get this.  There are only 4 main fuses, one for ECU, Ignition, fuel pump and alternator and a second bus for the back up set.  Why not have these on breakers on the main panel? You'd be looking at 8 small breakers max.  Seems like if something conks out because of a trip you push the trip back in, if it trips again then you can then switch to the back up unit.

It looks like he uses automotive spades on his wiring (I might be wrong) but this would make me nervous as well. Especially mounted on a vibrating firewall .I'd want something a bit more solid like screwed terminals myself.

He does not cover the actual engine mounting on the airframe (he does touch on it a bit), probably because of the various model versions the engine can be used on, but a generic mounting example would be nice.  He does have lots of info on his website for this though with various other planes.

His two computer switches that control the engine systems look like crap but are functional and simple.  I'd probably want a more elegant setup with a locking switch of some sort because if you hit this thing in flight the engine QUITS.

All in all though the DVD explains a lot and covers all of the wiring and set-up of the engine and it is still an impressive design.  Unless I find a cheap O-235 it's probably still my number one choice!

Cheers

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Permalink Reply by Mike Ice on November 26, 2011 at 10:42am

Mark,

 

The choice between circuit breakers and fuses is one that is hard to make. There is a lot of supporting data for the use of either one and I don't think either is a bad choice. I used almost all spade fuses on the RV-9 that I built and it worked great. Try this web site for more info about wiring an aircraft, www.aeroelectric.com.

 

I am leaning towards using an aircraft engine myself. I really like the Rotax and the installed weight for the Rotax is very impressive. For Horse power to weight it seems like it is the clear winner, now if it did not cost so much I would order one tomorrow.

 

Winter is here right now and Anchorage, Alaska is on track to make the second most snow fall ever in November, over 30 inches so far. The temperatures are in the -10 to 20 above zero and it is hard to keep the hangar warm so all my thoughts of building and flying are on hold for now.

 

Thank you for your thoughts,

 

Mike Ice

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Permalink Reply by Joseph Begany on January 9, 2012 at 12:42pm

Viking Pilots

The Viking engine has been up in the air now for several months and I am shocked that there are no comments on line regarding the installation or even better the operation of the Viking in a 750 or 601.  If I was a paranoid person I would begin to think that everyone who has purchased a Viking had to sign a "No Talking" agreement with Viking under threat of death!

Where is everyone?  Anyone else surprised it has been so silent?

Joe B

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Permalink Reply by Fred Stratman on January 9, 2012 at 4:06pm

Dan Stanton is flying his Viking powered 701 and posts periodically:

 http://www.zenith.aero/profile/DanStanton?xg_source=activity

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Permalink Reply by Mike Ice on January 9, 2012 at 7:48pm

Joseph,

 

No, I am not surprised. I think the Viking may turn out to be a great engine but I wouldn't want to be part of the "beta" phase.

I doubt you are paranoid but you have good reason to wonder.

 

What I wonder about is the difference in weight between an installed Viking and an installed Rotax 912s.

 

Mike

 

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