Mike Gearon

On 11/04/2021 at 11:37 AM, Mike Gearon said:

I’m visiting the factory when in USA July. Just 4 hours drive from Nebraska home. Covid vax etc not withstanding....Looking at the order with 174hp Titan in place of the 180hp Titan because compression ratio is slightly reduced. Curious as to why you’re going the opposite way with the Rotax. The 80hp Rotax is under stressed. The 915 possibly pushing the other way..

 

14 months wait list now on this aircraft. Definitely popular!

That was a month ago. Decided I won’t be going to USA until the world tames the virus! Had my first Covid shot last week as emergency worker (CFA). Flew exactly 24 hours later as advised not to fly prior on CASA site. Can’t say I felt great! Just a little off game. Wouldn’t have flown if definitely unwell. 
 

I noticed this really good video on the Titan engine. It looks like you can specify some of your own bits and actually watch your engine being made. The guy said he even called support and spoke to the guy who built his engine. Coincidentally first on support line. Builder rembered his engine and was spot on with assistance. Maybe skip the first 5 minutes... 

Same. Well, I have USA GA and expert the conversion to go easier with RAA nearly done. That’s a pain in the arse btw. You guys do things different here!

Same in getting tail endorsement. I watched my CFI come back drenched in sweat in USA when he was out in an old tail wheel that was apparently challenging. This is what I’ll be doing usa in July. Tail endorse as well as visiting RANS. 

Mark, did you order the trike or tail wheel?

34 minutes ago, Kyle Communications said:

I want to be in the new Group G if and when it comes in to remain in RAA. If not then it is registered as a VH under experimental. So I am hedging my bets. The Rotax powered version is limited to weight by horsepower. 1600 lbs for a std Rotax (727kg) but with the Titan is is 1800lbs (818kg)

 

My engine will have 115 hp and if I do some exhaust work nearly 120hp

 

727kg fits the proposed 760kg Group G  but the 818kg does not.

 

The S-21 will fit even with the Titan in the stall spec for Group G but cant fit in the MTOw

 

The std 912ULS the aircraft flew fine and with a bit more grunt almost 20%  it should be very good

Also a lighter aircraft of course lands slower and takes off faster. The Titan and Rotax takeoff in the same distance and the Rotax version lands shorter due to lighter weight and lower stall speed.

 

Also total fuel on board is the same so the Rotax version will kill the Titan in endurance and distance and also cost of fuel. It will be a bit slower but will go further. I have a Titan header tank in mine and that means total useable fuel on board if I want it is 185litres..thats over 10hrs endurance so I can fly a lot longer between refueling stops

 

As usual, well thought through 🙂 

I’ve just decided to bite the bullet and go CASA as well as the RAA I’ve just about finished. Looking forward to meeting Randy!

On 13/03/2021 at 10:21 PM, Kyle Communications said:

I flew that very aircraft on the 11th and 13th of Oct 2018. Rans have stopped making the FWF kit for the Rotax as most seem to want the Titan. They also stopped the 915 IS version because they couldnt get the inlet temps down to the Rotax spec. Rotax have now revised their specs and Randy will probably go back to doing a FWF kit for the 915 IS now. The std 100hp S-21 flies perfectly with 2 POB and when I flew it half fuel load...which is a lot. We had climb rates of 600 to 800 ft per min easily and that was at a fastish climb of around 70 to 80 mph. My Rotax powered one will have close to around 118 to 120hp. The engine is built and sitting here waiting for me to finally get to start the build. As a test to their popularity is when I ordered mine back in 2018 it too 10 months to have it ready to ship..the current wait from time of order to get a kit is 14 months !!!!!  Rans can not make enough of them

 

I’m visiting the factory when in USA July. Just 4 hours drive from Nebraska home. Covid vax etc not withstanding....Looking at the order with 174hp Titan in place of the 180hp Titan because compression ratio is slightly reduced. Curious as to why you’re going the opposite way with the Rotax. The 80hp Rotax is under stressed. The 915 possibly pushing the other way..

14 months wait list now on this aircraft. Definitely popular!