I got kind of a shocking surprise today when talking to two gentlemen who had recently (October) been to the Rotax school to get training on heavy maintenance of the 912 engines. Apparently they were told by the Rotax people at this school that the advertised 2000 hr TBO is kind of a joke for the 100 HP engine. The 80 Hp is very strong and these comments did not apply to it.

They said that about 800 hrs is way more typical, but that people who fly a lot regularly 100 hrs a year or more will get somewhat longer life, but probably not anywhere near 2000 hrs.

This disturbs me a lot, since I have heard nothing about it on this forum and tend to trust the Rotax advertising. I am wondering what kind of TBO experience the forum members are getting, or maybe no-one has put much more than 800 hrs on a 912s yet? I am hoping what these guys were telling me is one isolated opinion from a possibly digruntled Rotax employee.

Jim