Rotec r3600 radial

[Slouis]

Does anyone have any thoughts on installing a rotec r3600 on a kitfox 7. Just my thoughts on installing rotec r3600. The r3600 is 150-160 hp and weighs 275 lbs. The titan 0-340 is advertised between. 259-296 lbs. Am I missing something or does it appear this will work?
If there is something i am not thinking of feel free to share your thoughts or opinions.

Thanks
Scott

[Planesmaker]

Of course you can make anything work with enough time and money :). My thoughts are buying an engine from a small manufacturer that may or may not be around in years to come when you may need parts, I know nothing is certain but my questions would be how many engines have been sold and are operating? Any problems from operators? How many do they manufacture a month?
Just my .02 worth

[efwd]

my thought. How many Kit aircraft manufacturers are there? Kitfox remains in business. How many Radial engine manufacturers are there? One. So, there are so many aircraft kits that can use the Rotec that I wonder who might go out of business first, an airplane company or an engine company who serves many airplane company kits? I want that Rotec too. I just considered weight, cost of purchase and long term maintenance costs. Rotax won.
Eddie

[Esser]

Talking with the Kitfox guys, the Titan was too heavy and made the plane less fun to fly than a Rotax.

The radial engine really makes no sense to me. It’s form over function and in a plane I will always choose function over form.

Set up your plane to fly well and worry about looks last.

[jmodguy]

Scott,
If you want to hang a radial on a 7, go for it. If you want the "same thing as everyone else" has then hang a Rotax on it and wonder when your carbs will go out of sync or where you will be when the pricey ignition module(s) dump on you or why the hoses are so expensive, or how often the reduction drive needs inspected/overhauled.

Every airframe/engine combo has its quirks. Make it yours and enjoy it! Learn something new/different and let everyone know what you learned.

A guy in Florida put a Rotec on an RV-8 and it has some pretty respectable performance.
Some say you can't/shouldn't put a Rotec on a Model IV, but some have done it, and it works.

Rotec has been around since 1999. I doubt they will fold tomorrow, but you never know, Skystar went through bankruptcy and its future was uncertain until John and Deb picked it up.

There are other radial companies in the market now, Verner being one from Europe.
Remember, opinions are like @$$#oles, everyone has one!

[LSaupe]

my thought. How many Kit aircraft manufacturers are there? Kitfox remains in business. How many Radial engine manufacturers are there? One. So, there are so many aircraft kits that can use the Rotec that I wonder who might go out of business first, an airplane company or an engine company who serves many airplane company kits? I want that Rotec too. I just considered weight, cost of purchase and long term maintenance costs. Rotax won.
Eddie

Don't forget the Verner radials.

http://www.vernermotor.com/

[avidflyer]

Try to arrange a ride with someone who has a radial in their Kitfox. I don't like looking over or around the round cowl blocking the view on a Kitfox, and the radial is bigger yet I believe. But to each his own. But the point is you wont know for sure till you get there how you are going to feel. If you build it and then find you don't really like it, it will be a bit late then and very costly to change your mind. JImChuk

[efwd]

I haven't heard of Verner. Thanks.
Eddie

[David47]

FWIW .... It comes back to the same old question: what do I want to do with your airplane.... I chose a Lycoming over a Rotax and a Rotec for my own reasons. I want to do long distance flying - I live in a big country. I looked at the Rotec because it (a) looked really good on this style of airplane and (b) because it is Australian made (I can be parochial sometimes ..). But it lost out primarily on profile drag and therefore long distance performance. I looked at the Rotax because it was lighter and lower cost than what I eventually bought. But I couldn't reconcile my concern about having a gearbox between engine and propellor, a higher revving engine etc. Others won't have the same concerns and in fact, I think the additional GB is less of an issue that I originally thought. For the R3600, you'll get more power with a higher fuel flow and higher drag. Your flight endurance will be down which means shorter flight times. But if that fits with how you want to use it, fill-ya-boots. In the end, I personally think a Rotec installed in a Kitfox looks really really good. But for my mission, it didn't fit the bill. That's my thought for today ....:)

[aviator79]

The Rotec really makes the Kitfox a neat-looking plane. I guess I'll reiterate what others have said: Do what makes the most sense for you. But I will also add that there are considerations beyond what you want in the finished product. Kitfox sells Firewall Forward for the r2800, but you'd be largely on your own for the r3600. For me, this is my first build, and I bet a lot of money against poor odds that I'll finish. So a major consideration for me is to stick to things that are tried-and-true and well-supported by Kitfox. The round-engined Kitfoxes are beautiful though, so I'm glad people are out there doing it.

[paulc]

Form over function..... Why not have both?

1500'/min climb, 110MPH at 20" engine.

Perhaps I'm an odd ball, but If I cant have it like this. I'd rather do something else.

See here: https://youtu.be/vVn4b49KWPs?t=19s

[jmodguy]

I’m with you Paul! If you want to be like everyone else, get an Vans or certified. The interesting ones are the ground breakers!

[jdmcbean]

Talking with the Kitfox guys, the Titan was too heavy and made the plane less fun to fly than a Rotax.

Not really true... The Kitfox is ALWAYS fun to fly. The Titan was certainly heavier and that extra weight is noticed. The Radial was heavier as well..
But I would fly either to Oshkosh and back.. oh wait.. I did.😜

While I personally prefer the Rotax.. it is not for everyone. The Titan or the Radial are good choices.

The 3600 is currently being installed in 2 Kitfox's

[efwd]

How come some people don't use this forum? You know how many people are interested in something like an r3600 installation. Man I wish whoever is doing that was sharing it here.
Im enjoying my build so much that I even consider another SS7 kit just to build it old school with a radial. Like the guy at Rotec. Man, I salivate every time I come across that video.

[Slouis]

Does anyone have a rotec project going with a kitfox? I would love to see some pictures if anyone has some. I have a brand new r3600 that was planned for a Van's rv6 but I think a kitfox would be a better home for my engine.

Scott Louis

[Delta Whisky]

I read this thread really fast so I might have missed it but the one point that I don't think was mentioned, and pushed me over the edge to the tried and true Rotax, was the fact that Rotec doesn't have direct representation in the States. (I.e., a factory rep) That means (most likely) when you get parts, new or replacements, is an unknown and you will be carrying the freight charges from Australia all by your little own self. Just one more factor to weigh when making your decision.

[bogmonster]

I was seriously considering converting from my 912ul to the rotec until I saw this video.

https://youtu.be/ZIjh4o9QjtY

Looks like only a year ago. Maybe he just had multiple bad experiences.

Mike

[ken nougaret]

I read this thread really fast so I might have missed it but the one point that I don't think was mentioned, and pushed me over the edge to the tried and true Rotax, was the fact that Rotec doesn't have direct representation in the States. (I.e., a factory rep) That means (most likely) when you get parts, new or replacements, is an unknown and you will be carrying the freight charges from Australia all by your little own self. Just one more factor to weigh when making your decision.

Your exactly right!

[paulc]

I was seriously considering converting from my 912ul to the rotec until I saw this video.

https://youtu.be/ZIjh4o9QjtY

Looks like only a year ago. Maybe he just had multiple bad experiences.

Mike

Always two sides to every story! If you look at the facts Rotec have been building radials since 1998 and have 4,320 units in service. We just received our 20 year EAA recognition of attending Oshkosh.
So I figure we must be doing something right?

Most if not all Rotec engines are fitted to experimental home builts, we cant control the application nor the competency of the end user which range from genius to something lesser :)

Below are some previous forum links to pics of my own Kitfox, I'm so in love with this machine I doubt it will ever leave my side! I recently knocked back an offer $80,000. I will never sell it.

have fun stay safe.

http://www.teamkitfox.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=8115&highlight=Mini+coupe

http://www.teamkitfox.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=8324&highlight=Mini+coupe

[Slyfox]

Form over function..... Why not have both?

1500'/min climb, 110MPH at 20" engine.

Perhaps I'm an odd ball, but If I cant have it like this. I'd rather do something else.

See here: https://youtu.be/vVn4b49KWPs?t=19s
I don't understand what you are trying to boast about here. I did a bit better than that the other day with my rotax 912uls. I know for a fact I got 1800 and my full out is 101kts which is like 116mph correct me if I'm wrong on that one. I have a light plane and she is a nice runner and that's with 27.5 mains