Zonsen Aero Engines - Rapture Aviation (Adelaide)

[BrendAn]

9 minutes ago, facthunter said:

Why use SILLY terms like "Not Emotionally Invested"?   There's not much NEW technology in a Rotax.  More of a different approach. Part water cooled.  Pressed up crankshaft. Weird oil return system Awful carburettors in a bad position, Expensive Bit's. Nev

And yet despite you constantly pointing out all the design faults they are am extremely reliable and fuel efficient engine.

[RossK]

19 minutes ago, facthunter said:

Why use SILLY terms like "Not Emotionally Invested"?   There's not much NEW technology in a Rotax.  More of a different approach. Part water cooled.  Pressed up crankshaft. Weird oil return system Awful carburettors in a bad position, Expensive Bit's. Nev

All true, but it makes a bucket load of power for it's size, burns little fuel (comparably), will make it's 2000hr TBO with basic maintenance and just works consistantly and reliably.

Take in all the above and it's no wonder it's being copied.

I hope Zonsen do well. We run a couple of industrial aluminium saws sourced from China, they are now 9 years old and have performed flawlessly. 

Edited February 25 by RossK

[johnm]

if Zonsen do good - it can only mean good for any person buying an engine

 

Rotax might start to see any compartive engine ......................... as competition

[BurnieM]

I do not have a problem with Zonsen (previously Zhongshen).

They have produced millions of small motorcycles and are an engine supplier for other motorcycle manufacturers including piaggio.

They appear to have started in 1982 and are a conclomerate of 52? companies with approx 20,000 employees.

 

Aviation engines are a different market where reliability is critical.

I need information in order to make a purchasing decision. Why would you not give it to me?

 

 

 

[Area-51]

12 hours ago, Rapture said:

Zonsen have exceptional engine test facilities at their manufacturing and assembly plant in Chongqing. The majority of their engines have gone through the accelerated testing process required to obtain ASTM approval.  So they’ve already essentially done your test.

That is great to know... now a few independent market end users need to perform the same engine on stick test and publish results. If the results are closely similar to factory, great. If they are wildly contrasting against published manufacturer results then somebody is probably telling fibs, or the test environment inputs are dramatically different.

 

ChongQing is a great city. For a wild experience take a motorcycle taxi across town; first 30sec should be enough time to get the adrenaline pumping 🤣🤣🤣

[Area-51]

13 hours ago, Rapture said:

 

 

 

Edited February 26 by Area-51

[BrendAn]

53 minutes ago, Area-51 said:

That is great to know... now a few independent market end users need to perform the same engine on stick test and publish results. If the results are closely similar to factory, great. If they are wildly contrasting against published manufacturer results then somebody is probably telling fibs, or the test environment inputs are dramatically different.

 

ChongQing is a great city. For a wild experience take a motorcycle taxi across town; first 30sec should be enough time to get the adrenaline pumping 🤣🤣🤣

My father lived there for 9 years. They lived on a hill and when he went on the local bus the driver used to  coast down the hills in angel gear.😁

 

Edited February 26 by BrendAn

[onetrack]

Quote

...the local bus the driver used to  coast down the hills in angel gear...

And the same bloke probably assembles Zhonsen engines (or Zongsheng, or whatever name it is, this month),  in his off-hours, when he's not scaring bus passengers out of their wits!

[rodgerc]

If you’re really that keen to find a Rotax alternative, there’s three ship loads of them heading down the east coast, about 160nm east of Hobart at present.
 

Apparently they’re in a celebratory mood letting off a few crackers and sky rockets left over from the year of the snake celebrations. 

[Rapture]

On 26/2/2025 at 10:57 AM, BurnieM said:

I do not have a problem with Zonsen (previously Zhongshen).

They have produced millions of small motorcycles and are an engine supplier for other motorcycle manufacturers including piaggio.

They appear to have started in 1982 and are a conclomerate of 52? companies with approx 20,000 employees.

 

Aviation engines are a different market where reliability is critical.

I need information in order to make a purchasing decision. Why would you not give it to me?

 

 

 

Burnie, it is not possible to give you what you want because the engine is new enough and not prolific enough to be able to furnish you with the data that you want.  You are essentially seeking third party validation of quality and reliability.  That data is not yet available and that has been stated already several times on this thread so continuing to ask for it is not going to change the fact that the information that you seek is not yet available. Please ask again in 2 years and we should have the independent validation that you seek.

We are aware that sales will likely be slow until such validation is available.  I think we probably all agree that an initiative by the manufacturer to incentivize some customers to take the engines, build time on them quickly and get the third party validation of quality, safety, reliability and customer support so that potential customers need not fear that element of the buy decision.

[BurnieM]

I understand what I am asking for.

 

I am definintely pushing for factory involvement in this entry into the Australian market.

I note a lack of factory involvement in the US market also.

Without the factory being seen to support their product in our market people will just wait.

 

How about a public statement from the factory about how they view the Australian market ?

 

 

Edited Thursday at 10:07 PM by BurnieM

[Rapture]

53 minutes ago, BurnieM said:

I understand what I am asking for.

 

I am definintely pushing for factory involvement in this entry into the Australian market.

I note a lack of factory involvement in the US market also.

Without the factory being seen to support their product in our market people will just wait.

 

How about a public statement from the factory about how they view the Australian market ?

 

 

Thanks Burnie.  You have hit the nail on the head with that statement.  Zonsen have indicated to me that they consider the Australian market to be an important one.  But as you say, consumers in Australia like to see OEM support for their products in Australia and there are certainly ways that such support can be demonstrated.