Ukrainian 2-seat helicopter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 1
From: 1 Dunghill Mansions, Putney
AFAIK, none of the small helicopter turbines get close to 2,500 engines a year, so I don't think you'd automatically see any volume benefits. Pratt's PW600 family might get close to those levels if the VLJ market takes off, but that's a much bigger core than 100-300 hp, and there's no indication yet of a shaft derivative down the road.
At Heli-Expo, Lycoming was raving about its roller tappets - which allegedly improve power and reliability - and was dropping hints about a diesel announcement this fall, but the company has a fair bit of work to do on its reputation following the crankshaft recalls.
Interesting to see that the US Army has selected one of Thielert's diesels to power its new Warrior ERMP UAV. The requisite qualification and maturization effort should give the diesel an opportunity to put up or shut up.
I/C
At Heli-Expo, Lycoming was raving about its roller tappets - which allegedly improve power and reliability - and was dropping hints about a diesel announcement this fall, but the company has a fair bit of work to do on its reputation following the crankshaft recalls.
Interesting to see that the US Army has selected one of Thielert's diesels to power its new Warrior ERMP UAV. The requisite qualification and maturization effort should give the diesel an opportunity to put up or shut up.
I/C
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: New Zealand
I see the Subaru operates at 5300 RPM in the Aerokopter and has one coil per ignition lead.......I like the idea of reduced overhaul costs but nowhere on the website could I find a TBO for the engine. I think the best and only way to make judgement on this attractive little heli is to get it out working in the field doing 6-700 hours a year and sit back and see what falls over on it - Give Aerokopter time and space to iron out the bugs (just like Robinson needed) and let the machinery do the talking.
Its great to see the Ukraine back in the design game!
Its great to see the Ukraine back in the design game!
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Europe
I disagree that just because an engine is stone-reliable in a light sedan, it will be equally reliable in a helicopter. In the average auto, an engine is only run at full throttle about 11% of its life, and is making full power (maximum RPM and WOT) less than 5% of its life (if ever).
Even if those car engines could be certified in aviation use, i doubt that they would ever reach sort of TBO that for examble Lycoming has. Even if those engines are massproduced (cheap), a TBO of 300 hours and it would be quite hard to sell it to anyone. An average R22 should get it's engine changed twice a year. Nice.
Thielert's smaller diesel engine is based on Mercedes' 1,7 liter CDI engine. I don't know the situation nowadays but last year it had 600 hr TBO when installed in C172. So car engines can be certified, but it doesn't happen easily.
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Cape Town South Africa
Originally Posted by Finnrotor.com
Even if those car engines could be certified in aviation use, i doubt that they would ever reach sort of TBO that for examble Lycoming has. Even if those engines are massproduced (cheap), a TBO of 300 hours and it would be quite hard to sell it to anyone. An average R22 should get it's engine changed twice a year. Nice.
I see from your earlier quote, you sugest that aerokopter should use a different engine to obtain certification in the US and Europe. Besides Lycoming, Continental and Franklin, what do you sugest?
