Classic IV build engine suggestions and WHY!

[Dusty]

If your intention is to fly local (50mile) the 582 is a great engine but 70 mph is a realistic cruise v's 90 for he 912. I fly my brothers 4 with a 582 which outperforms my 912 powered 4 in takeoff and landing and is marginally lower climb rate. Add a passenger and the 582 starts to lag behind. Fuel burn surprisingly is similar per hour but at a different cruse speed! Both engines are are awesome and suite the 4 very well with the 912 at the upper end of the weight/cg limit of a 4. Your sensible choice is rotax be it 2 or 4 stroke.
I have recently been flying with a jabaru powered Avid and although not a direct comparison it falls midway between the two in cruise but is not startling in takeoff or climb. From what I have seen here the 582 has a better reliability record.We have a few Viking powered aircraft (non kitfox) that are only marginally better than the 912 but their weight rules them out for a 4.

[109JB]

I would also vote either 582 or 912, leaning toward the 912. I remember somewhere reading that the acquisition and operational cost even out about 800 hours if comparing new to new. This is because the 582 needs more frequent overhaul and consume more fuel.

The reason I say 582 or 912 is because they are proven on this airframe, have installation kits, engine mounts, etc available. The 582 you can have about a 550 lb airplane. I'm hoping to have about a 600 pound 912 powered Kitfox for my project airplane. Might be wishful thinking though. Will have to see.

[FoxHunter]

John,
What is the furthest you have flown in a KF IV with the 582 in miles?


EK~

[avidflyer]

Not John, but here is a video of Joey Myers flying on one of his trips between California and Idaho's Johnson Creek. His trusty 582 in an Avid Flyer. He has quite a few other vids if you look through his channel. Another guy who is on the AvidFoxFlyers Forum flew his 582 powered Avid from California to Conneticut. JImChuk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5cqalZuONw tried the link after I posted it and it didn't work for me. look for Headed to McCall ILov2fly that's the name Joey goes by on utube.

[FoxHunter]

Not John, but here is a video of Joey Myers flying on one of his trips between California and Idaho's Johnson Creek. His trusty 582 in an Avid Flyer. He has quite a few other vids if you look through his channel. Another guy who is on the AvidFoxFlyers Forum flew his 582 powered Avid from California to Conneticut. JImChuk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5cqalZuONw tried the link after I posted it and it didn't work for me. look for Headed to McCall ILov2fly that's the name Joey goes by on utube.

Ok nice videos he has. Im interested in both if I can find a decently low time 912 Ill do it but the 582 might work for me with the occasional trip out of PA. Mostly withing 100-200 miles of KHZL.

Ed~

[109JB]

John,
What is the furthest you have flown in a KF IV with the 582 in miles?


EK~

Well not that far yet because I only got it last fall. However I have had it about 100 miles from home. That's only because I haven't had the time or opportunity to take it anywhere especially since this whole COVID-19 thing started. With the 2-stroke the concern for me is not going on a cross country somewhere, which would be constant RPM cruise conditions. The concern, which is not really a concern, is stuff like take-off and landing practice where temps and RPM are up, then down, then up, then down. I say it is not really a concern meaning I'm not afraid of it. It just requires minding the store so to speak. In colder weather particularly I have found you need to pay more attention to engine temps in the 2-stroke.

[FoxHunter]

Well not that far yet because I only got it last fall. However I have had it about 100 miles from home. That's only because I haven't had the time or opportunity to take it anywhere especially since this whole COVID-19 thing started. With the 2-stroke the concern for me is not going on a cross country somewhere, which would be constant RPM cruise conditions. The concern, which is not really a concern, is stuff like take-off and landing practice where temps and RPM are up, then down, then up, then down. I say it is not really a concern meaning I'm not afraid of it. It just requires minding the store so to speak. In colder weather particularly I have found you need to pay more attention to engine temps in the 2-stroke.

John,
I have been reading the Rotax site materials and I believe that Rotax has optimized the 582 to be a more reliable power plant now. They have been around for a while........I like having a true aviation engine in my airplane (not ready yet but need to think about it) not a car conversion. Any other help would be appreciated. I would actually like to fly with someone in thier 582 powered KF if there any Kitfoxxes near me in PA. ??

Ed~

[Slyfox]

only one thing I can say. you get what you pay for. with that, I'm going to fly my kitfox 4 with the 912uls and have a ball, with no worries. have a nice day.

[FoxHunter]

Ok, Thanks for the input.

EK~