Hello Hank, basically the tooling has been worn out. It was a same
with the 503. The cost of retooling was many millions of dollars and
much more than the company could recover in years and years of sales
so it just comes to a stage where it is unviable to continue.
Added to this probably 99 out of 100 engines that they sell at the
moment are going to be the larger 4 stroke engines to suit the
bigger aircraft we are now flying so I guess the market is just not
there anymore.
It's not so much about the plans for the engine but it is the choice
of materials that go into the production of the metal components.
Knowing exactly what goes into what part and where it can be sourced
from is probably the biggest difficulty for the company wanting to
take over production of the two-stroke engines. I wish it was really
easy but it isn't
Hank Optland wrote on 30/07/2022 11:42
am:
It would be really nice if Rotax sold (or gave away) their plans
to a manufacturer who was prepared to re-start production of 582
or 618 motors.
Get
Hello Justin, the problem is when we are talking about all of
these engines they are simply too heavy for the standard X-Air
aircraft. You are limited in weight to the equivalent of the
Rotax 618/582 series.
Any more weight than this requires setting the engine on the
leading edge of the wing, adding weight into the rear of the
aircraft and all other things which change the characteristics
of a fantastic flying aeroplane (X-Air standard)
The ending of production of all of the Rotax two-stroke engines
is a real issue for light aircraft manufacturers like X-Air
unfortunately Because we lose a semi affordable but ultimately
very reliable and suitable propulsion system.
Justin Gregoris wrote on
30/07/2022 12:41 am:
check out this new engine, like a rotax - ulpower.com. very
interesting. UL260i.
Hello Group,?
on the?issue of a suitable alternative to the Rotax
582?for the X-air, has anyone considered the MZ202 by
Compact Radial Engines (now Fiate)? It is advertised as a
63 go?bolt on replacement for the R582…..
?
Thank you for your comments
Tom Dudet
Le vendredi, juillet 29, 2022, 6:30 AM, Michael Coates
<mcoates@...> a écrit?:
Hello Hank, that is the million-dollar
question.....??? There are really no viable
alternates....?? A lot of people mention the Hirth
but in reality they just don't have the reliability
and service record of the Rotax 582. The Jabiru 2.2
doesn't perform all that well on the original X-Air
airframe which was always designed for the 582.
I guess we will just have to look for electric !
Hank
Optland wrote on 29/07/2022 2:10 pm:
★ What will replace the two-stroke Rotax motors
(no longer made) in the X-Airs?
Get
They could have always done things differently
in my opinion. The problem was the market also
changed and tube and fabric aircraft were no
longer The only option available to recreational
flyers when composite aircraft started getting
around. Added to this is now There are no longer
Rotax two-stroke engines available and that makes
it much harder to sell the standard models.....
Justin
Gregoris wrote on 29/07/2022 10:11 am:
I wonder if the marketing ads and campaigns
were better with the X Air - they may have
sold a lot more aircraft.
I've taken
about 4 very experienced pilots wirh total
flighr hours ranging from 1800-28,000hrs and
all have said the same thing: the X Air comes
across as a brittle 'paper airplane' but after
flying it, is surprised with overall stability
and engineering while keeping it in value
packed design.
Hello Justin, yes I have also been sent
photographs of the progress from the first day
and he is doing a fantastic job. I have been
holding off in posting the pictures in dribs
and drabs and rather waiting until he has
completely finished and then do a mass upload
but you are more than welcome to send through
anything that he has already sent you. It is
really good to see the resources of X-Air
owners and how they can approach things from a
different perspective and make really
significant improvements
Justin
Gregoris wrote on 29/07/2022 10:02 am:
Totally off topic, but If I'm allowed -
I'll send everyone a bunch of pictures of
this gentlemen's (Brent) Hanuman.
He
purchased a 2009 X Air.
Completely
stripped the plane - literally dismantled
98% of it. New covering, new Jabiru motor.
New everything. New, modified landing
gear, big tundra-like STOL tires. 3 bladed
prop, list goes on. Then he also got a
custom door builder to increase cabin
width to 49 inches by installing bubble
doors without any cross members. Looks
high-end.
This
airplane is by far the nicest looking X
Air I have ever seen. Probably all input
around 55,000$ CDN but I'm blown away how
nice it is. Located in New Brunswick
Canada.
I replaced mine with two 9044 bungees
per side. One each was a bit soft, two
worked just fine.
--
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AU +61 7 5522 0583
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PIPISTREL AIRCRAFT DEALER OF THE YEAR 2012
Winner of the EAA August Raspet Award 2012
PIPISTREL AIRCRAFT DEALER OF THE YEAR 2017
mailto:mcoates@...
skype name: xcomavionics
Please note: because of the volume of e-mail we are now receiving our replies are
done using voice recognition software in an effort to speed up the reply process.
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information for any purpose whatsoever. If this communication has been
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"Amateurs practice till they get it right;
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--
With regards, Michael Coates
AU +61 7 5522 0583
USA +1 213 984 1237
PIPISTREL AIRCRAFT DEALER OF THE YEAR 2012
Winner of the EAA August Raspet Award 2012
PIPISTREL AIRCRAFT DEALER OF THE YEAR 2017
mailto:mcoates@...
skype name: xcomavionics
Please note: because of the volume of e-mail we are now receiving our replies are
done using voice recognition software in an effort to speed up the reply process.
Sometimes the voice recognition program inserts silly words or doesn't actually
do what it is meant to do. Occasionally these mistakes get through our quick
proofreading of each e-mail sent, so please accept my apologies if the odd mistake
gets through.
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information for any purpose whatsoever. If this communication has been
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"Amateurs practice till they get it right;
Professionals practice till they can’t get it wrong."
--
With regards, Michael Coates
AU +61 7 5522 0583
USA +1 213 984 1237
PIPISTREL AIRCRAFT DEALER OF THE YEAR 2012
Winner of the EAA August Raspet Award 2012
PIPISTREL AIRCRAFT DEALER OF THE YEAR 2017
mailto:mcoates@...
skype name: xcomavionics
Please note: because of the volume of e-mail we are now receiving our replies are
done using voice recognition software in an effort to speed up the reply process.
Sometimes the voice recognition program inserts silly words or doesn't actually
do what it is meant to do. Occasionally these mistakes get through our quick
proofreading of each e-mail sent, so please accept my apologies if the odd mistake
gets through.
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