Rotax has added a new engine to its line of popular four-cylinder, four-stroke aircraft engines — the 912iS. The new engine represents somewhat of a technological leap for large-volume, small-displacement aircraft powerplants in that it features electronic fuel injection and an electronic engine management unit. Company officials rolled out the new engine at BRP/Rotax’s company headquarters in Gunskirchen, Austria, on Thursday morning. Also at Gunskirchen were a number of test-bed companies whose aircraft featured the 912iS, including Pipistrel Aircraft, an LSA and soon-to-be manufacturer of certified aircraft located in Slovenia, Flight Designs and FK-Lightplanes among many. BRP clearly intends the 912iS to be a “green” engine with improved fuel economy and lower emissions as one of its design goals.
Horsepower of the new engine will remain at 100, as with previous models of the 912, but in place of the Bing carburetors, which some owners have complained about having to adjust from time to time, the 912iS will have automotive-type fuel injection with an ECU capable of timing each fuel charge. Each cylinder will have dual injectors for redundancy, with dual channel ECU control. BRP claims up to 20 percent lower consumption than like-power aircraft engines.
The overall physical size will remain essentially the same as previous models of the 912, although the weight will be about 6 kilograms more for a total weight of about 63 kg or 140 pounds dry, installed weight. The engine will also have two internal alternators to both power the ECU and ship’s systems. BRP says the engine will be available in two versions, the 912iS non-certified and the 912iSc for certified aircraft. Initial test production is already underway and the engine will come out of the box with a 2000-hour TBO.
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