Comments on: Vans RV-12 is creating a swamp

By: David N

David N — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:34:56 +0000

One other point, I fly exclusively on 93 octane auto gas. It has ethanol in it. I have never had a problem. And, it is about 40% less cost then avgas.

By: David N

David N — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:34:01 +0000

I own an Evektor Sportstar and have about 250 hours in it. I have, in the past, owned aircraft that have had both Lycoming and Continental engines. I feel that I have enough experience to make the following statements. I find little difference between Lycomings and Continentals. They are good, reliable aircraft engines. They are, however, frightenly expensive to feed (fuel and oil), to maintain (the cost of parts), very noisy, and cause a lot of vibration.

The Rotax is a revelation. It is far quieter, far smoother, and requires less fuel and oil. Other then changing oil as per the required schedule, I have never had to add oil to the engine. So far, its maintenance costs has been zero. This engine is far beyond anything I have ever flown in before. And, it is light. The sportstar is 700 lbs. You will never get a plain that light flying behind an 0-200.

By: David

David — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:40:25 +0000

I assume you could put lights on the plane.

It has become obvious to me that Cessna made a huge mistake going to the continental engine. The useful load with the rotax is so much better, it will put the cessna at a sever disadvantage.

By: David Reinhart

David Reinhart — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:43:00 +0000

I don’t like that it doesn’t have lights. If/when I lose my medical, I’ll have to be satisfied with only flying during the day. As a PP, I don’t fly much at night but I do like to have the option of getting home after sundown. I don’t even care if it has a landing light, but navigation lights are a must.