radial engine powerplant

[NPLOUFFE314]

New member here. I've been researching engine options for my kitfox build so I have everything already mapped out when I get my kit so there's no curve balls in the process. I'm most likely just going with the Rotax 912is for the light weight, fuel economy and ease of use but I found this company out of Australia making engines to power the Myers Manx being built in California. The company's name is Radial Motion. My curiosity got to me; I think it would be cool to run a radial engine and go outside the norm and use the freedom of experimental aircraft building. Only downside is there's not much information on the engine and it is in the upper price point of other options. Has anyone on here looked into these engines at all?
ENGINE SPECS | Radial Motion

[Eric Page]

This is the first I've heard about this engine so I don't have any specific knowledge to share. They seem to be using well-known suppliers for parts. Kelford Cams are the AU/NZ market equivalent of Comp or Crane in the US, Harrop Casting Tech are a big name in superchargers, and Eagle rods are an old US brand (though much of their catalog is forged in China now and finished in the US). Bosch are experts at fuel injection and Motec ECUs are used by lots of racing teams. Assuming the rest of their engineering is sound, it looks promising. However...

They seem to be claiming that their 2 liter engine can be tuned up to 200HP, but the site also mentions upgrades to permit spinning the engine over 8,500RPM. If those two things (200HP and >8,500RPM) go together, then you may have one of two problems: either the engine doesn't make much power at any reasonable direct-drive speed (say, <3,000RPM) or the engine needs a reduction gearbox. If the latter, do Radial Motion make one or is that up to you?

If you're an engineer and you relish the challenges that come with being the first guy to install a new engine, then it might be worth a try. If you want to fly a reliable airplane in the foreseeable future, buy the Rotax.

There's another, aircraft-specific option for radial engines, Verner Motor. Forum member Alex M. has one mounted on his Kitfox Series 5. See Verner Radial Kitfox on YouTube and his forum build thread.