A heavily modified automobile engine is being developed by Daytona Beach, Florida-based EngineAir to power high-performance kitplanes. The 310kW (420hp) liquid-cooled, all-aluminium, V8 engine is expected to be flown in August, powering a Lancair IVP pressurised, four-seat, kitplane.
EngineAir chief executive James Rhom says that the engine is based on a popular Chevrolet V8. The aero-engine derivative has a liquid-cooled turbocharger and dual-redundant electrical, fuel, ignition and injection systems. A reduction gearbox, developed by NSI, is rated up to 485kW.
The EngineAir V8 weighs 263kg and has a fuel consumption of 79litres/h at the cruise-power rating of 235kW, which is available up to 32,000ft (9,750m) altitude.
Rohm, who notes that Honda and Toyota of Japan and Hawker Siddeley Canada's Orenda division are all developing liquid-cooled V8 aero-engines, has no plans to certificate the EngineAir V8. This will of course restrict its use to experimental-category aircraft such as kitplanes, the chief executive acknowledges.
Ontario-based Moravia is installing a 105kW Walter-Lom M332 in a Stoddard-Hamilton GlaStar kitplane for use as a company demonstrator. The Czech in-line four-cylinder engine is being offered as an alternative to the 95kW Teledyne Continental IO-240 in the two-seat GlaStar.
Rotax of Austria, has received US Federal Aviation Rules Part 33 certification, for its 60kW 912-F3 piston engine. The first deliveries, are scheduled to be made to Canada's Diamond Aircraft, for the DA20 Katana trainer. US certification of a Rotax-re-engine Cessna 150 is under way.
Source: Flight International
