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Thread: 915is Updates in the Kitfox?

  1. #11
    Senior Member jdmcbean's Avatar
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    Default Re: 915is Updates in the Kitfox?

    Rotax just had a price increase...
    912UL $16,503
    912ULS $19,701
    912iS $23,284
    914UL $31,539
    915iS $38,667

    Have talked with Edge Performance about there engine.. and we can supply them a new engine that they can modify.. to the EP912STi engine currently listed at 28000 Euro ($33375 US) I do not know if that reflects the current Rotax pricing.

    As for the 915iS.. We are (have been) working on a firewall forward package. It is a little more complicated and has larger oil cooling requirements and absolutely requires an inter-cooler. Exhaust and Turbo are larger as well.
    If all goes well we hope to be flying it soon.
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    John McBean
    www.kitfoxaircraft.com
    208.337.5111

    "The Sky is not the Limit... It's a Playground"

  2. #12
    Senior Member
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    Default Re: 915is Updates in the Kitfox?

    Thanks for the update!

  3. #13
    Senior Member av8rps's Avatar
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    Default Re: 915is Updates in the Kitfox?

    Quote Originally Posted by Esser View Post
    ULPower? Still surprised No One Has popped one in. I was going to until I got a deal on my engine. It’s lighter, costs the same as the titan I believe, and runs on auto fuel. The 130hp model would be waaay cheaper than the 915 and the titan. Looks like zenith is having good success with them
    On the Highlander "wings forum" you can read about the struggles a builder went through installing and operating a UL 130 hp engine by searching for UL350. He eventually got it to work good, and out of fairness, in many regards it had some great attributes (simple, nice "aircraft type" sound, etc). But if you read all of "Stede52's posts on it, as my memory serves me, after he sold it he admits he wouldn't do the UL engine again. He admits a zippered/modified 912 will outperform it, be lighter, and burn less fuel. And as much as I hate to say it, those are common shortcomings when comparing against a 912, as to be truly effective it needs a PSRU as it turns higher rpm than a standard aircraft engine. So prop efficiency is just not in the same league as the 912.

    Fwiw, the 6 cylinder 130 hp Jabiru has similar performance. Non geared high revving engines just don't work well on STOL type aircraft. They will however work reasonably well on faster planes that typically use shorter props. But so will a 912.

    With all that said, I'll be surprised if the 915 doesn't provide outstanding performance. I agree it is a bit pricey, but I personally think it will get the job done that most other engines won't. Time will tell...
    Last edited by av8rps; 01-10-2018 at 08:06 PM.

  4. #14

    Join Date
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    Default Re: 915is Updates in the Kitfox?

    Quote Originally Posted by jdmcbean View Post
    Rotax just had a price increase...
    912UL $16,503
    912ULS $19,701
    912iS $23,284
    914UL $31,539
    915iS $38,667

    Have talked with Edge Performance about there engine.. and we can supply them a new engine that they can modify.. to the EP912STi engine currently listed at 28000 Euro ($33375 US) I do not know if that reflects the current Rotax pricing.

    As for the 915iS.. We are (have been) working on a firewall forward package. It is a little more complicated and has larger oil cooling requirements and absolutely requires an inter-cooler. Exhaust and Turbo are larger as well.
    If all goes well we hope to be flying it soon.
    Hey John,

    Does the 915 use the same cowl as the 914 or will it require a "special" cowl?

    Thanks,
    Clark

  5. #15
    Senior Member jdmcbean's Avatar
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    Default Re: 915is Updates in the Kitfox?

    The 915 will be a complete firewall forward..
    Same basic cowlings with mods... but most likely different oil cooler, radiator and requires an inter-cooler...
    While you would think the wiring would be the same as the 912iS.. Rotax decided made changes to that as well...
    John McBean
    www.kitfoxaircraft.com
    208.337.5111

    "The Sky is not the Limit... It's a Playground"

  6. #16

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    Default Re: 915is Updates in the Kitfox?

    It could be worse, a new IO 540 is $73,000. if you can even remotely wrap your head around that.

    But at what point does the pricing prove to simply be false economy? Or is this an aircraft engine and you just suck it up?

  7. #17
    Senior Member av8rps's Avatar
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    Default Re: 915is Updates in the Kitfox?

    I heard from a friend a few years ago that tbe turbo 540 was over 100k.

  8. #18
    Senior Member jdmcbean's Avatar
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    Default Re: 915is Updates in the Kitfox?

    The Lycoming 233 and 235 new are over $35K and the New O-200D was about $34K.
    John McBean
    www.kitfoxaircraft.com
    208.337.5111

    "The Sky is not the Limit... It's a Playground"

  9. #19

    Default Re: 915is Updates in the Kitfox?

    I love the thought of the new 915is in the Kitfox STi.

    More 915is news...

    https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/new...-230216-1.html

  10. #20
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    Default Re: 915is Updates in the Kitfox?

    Any body know what kind of prop setup you might want to run with this engine. Pitch, length and type? Just fantasizing I guess. Jim

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