Aviation Forum / General / Homebuilt / November 2008

Don't know how it compares in price (after currency conversion) but the
Arion Lightning ( http://www.flylightning.net/ ) meets the gross weight and
HP range (and is a low wing composite like the Europa). It's American,
though.

Tapanee Aviation's Pegazair is a 1450 lb Utility Category, 1550 lb
Normal category 2 seater designed around 85-115HP.

Empty weight with a Continental O200 is 815 lb.

Kit or plans
Rag and tube fuselage and all aluminum flying surfaces.

My brother and I are engaged (more or less) in the building of a
Murphy Rebel which we will register so as to fly light sport. The
Rebel was designed to be a 1650 gross weight machine, but with
attention to keeping things light we believe that we can keep the
empty weight at 750 pounds, more or less.(mostly more)  That will give
us a payload of 570 pounds.  For comparison, the Cessna LSA model is
projected to be about 800 pounds. Give or take.
The biggest problem with this is the choice of engine. The Rotax 912
is the most recommended engine to do what we intend. It is 100 hp, and
I think the installed weight is around 150 pounds. The Continental
O-200 is heaver, at somewhere around 210, and is still 100 hp. The Lyc
O-233 shown at OSH this year is supposed to make 116 hp at 2800 rpm.
And it is supposed to weight in at 200 pounds. And burn auto fuel.
That would be my choice, if the engine is on the market when we are
ready for one.

Zenith CH-300 Driver.

jan olieslagers schreef:

Thanks to all who replied, I learned quite a few things.
And I must apologise for not describing the mission:
this must be a tourer, with good range above all
and a fair cruising speed a close second. Third come
fuel economy and engine reliability.
That said the Europa seems unbeatable, achieving
200 mph cruise on a 100HP Rotax 912S.

-) the Avion Lightning is one I never heard of.
But even with 120 HP it only manages 150-170 mph cruise?
-) the Jodel's are in another class, they were never meant for more
than +/- 60 HP and perform accordingly
-) The Emeraude is one I should have thought of,
and will be looking into; like the Menestrel I didn't know yet.
Wood construction certainly has an appeal for me.
-) Pegazair and Rebel are STOL/bush planes,
don't fit the mission.

All this being said, can we discuss engine choice?
In the 80-100 HP range, Lycosaurs seem unfit given
their high fuel burn. Rotax seems the obvious choice,
they're widely available and not excessively expensive.
A diesel would be nice for its low fuel burn
and good performance at altitude, but those designed
for aviation (Wilksch, SMA, Delta Hawk, Dair...)
are rare and expensive, while car conversions are
heavy and too complex for my limited mechanical ability.
Best compromise seems a Rotax 914, its turbo should much
improve altitude performance, but don't see many
of these around either...?

Thanks again for thinking along!
KA

hi jan,

you might take a look at the DAC RangeR, a dutch homebuilt project using an
automobile diesel engine adapted for aviation use. the airplane was shown
at an early stage at the friedrichshafen Aero exhibition some years ago. i
don't know the current status of the project; check their internet site:

http://www.dac-ranger.nl

cheers,
uli