Litespeed

What was that? Oh- you want a real aircraft. None of that modern computer crap, a real machine of metal, cloth and a red blooded pilot. Yumm Needs a louder exhaust but sounds great, big prop, redrive and not a Vw or rotax. A more grunty sound. That is a late model 70's-90's r100 series engine 970cc old school aircooled with oil cooler and electronic ignition but can be points for the absolute hard core luddites. Carbs are bings and simple with CV diaphrams. Normal power for this type is 70hp max and a easy 60 cruise hp for long distance.

Here are some vids of BMW twin conversions. Note how small some are packaged and others just spread out to fill space. Some are much nicer than others.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uqDwSDfZuohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux83iZag5Y0

Following from the Viking Thread we started talking about BMW engines again- I should say I butted in with them............. So I figured it best to start a new thread for all things BMW engined that can relate to aviation. So it can include any BMW motor but as long as it can be aircraft powering- V12's included but I am mainly thinking the motorcycle twins and possibly the 4 and 6 cylinder bike engines. Essentially engines that could relate to RAA aircraft or even experimental light aircraft. Anything is basically welcome vids, pics, opinions, designs, outrageous ideas are very welcome. As long as it relates a BMW powerplant and aircraft you will be sweet. Naturally practical applications will also be happily digested.

Any idea on pricing when it comes out? I do like them though been a lover of v twin bikes. As long as it is more Moto Guzzi rather than Ducati, it could be great. I really love the compact installation it makes- just bolt up and connect fuel and electrics. Also what I love about BMW twin conversion done well.

I do not know why some have problems esp with the twin. There is nothing actually difficult as long as you wire it correctly- different models have different ecu set ups and some models need a standalone harness, dependant on model some will benefit for ease of conversion with a simple aftermarket ecu add on. Any problems are purely to do with the electronic side- the engines are beautifully made and engineered, they are excellent candidates but some seem to do silly things wiring/install wise. I think peeps just approach them wrong and patch up the system rather than do it right from the start. They get problems and fail to develop for a reliable system. If you can't get a two plug per cylinder twin with quality injection systems running smooth then the problem is not the engine but the install. Even with a complete standalone ecu and back up one- it is not a very big project or expense. The engine is ready to go- just give it the right ecu set up whether original or new- depends on model size and power output. You can have anywhere from 80-130hp and they really sip fuel when run correctly. Just like any conversion the install is where it counts. If you get the mounting,cooling,exhaust and wiring right then success follows. If you expect it to be a out of the box firewall forward install- then you pay for it. I do not know the current market that well, but bet a competitive brand new version could be done and all properly engineered for a Rotax price if not quite lower. All that is needed is a new lower case for the new 125hp twins to save a lot of weight and more aero like. The fundamentals of the engines are fantastic and include balance shafts. They are considerably less complex and more easily maintained/rebuilt than the rotax. Now that would put a cat amongst the pigeons As far as a reused motor, I doubt you could spend more than $8-10k building a excellent fwd if you are smart about it. And 125hp with redrive is a potent machine. Even if you enlist the help of a ECU specialist with dyno- the time and cost should not be huge. And add a tablet and you can have full spectrum real time engine management at your fingertips in flight. Now we are talking a new millennium engine and all the goodies that entails.But with bugger all price. I think a lot of failures have been losing motivation and making mistakes that are really simple in most cases.

Here is the only K BMW motor I could find already done- should make a fast sonex. Note the strange set up used- redrive is at rear of motor and goes over the top of engine. This is not needed but his choice. Here is comment from site SkyoteLog: May 2016 Here is Les Kanna's gorgeous BMW K-1200 motorcycle engine powered Onex. The BMW provides 100+hp in a plane which normally flies with 80hp. The bottom cowl has been removed which gives us a peek at the engine This is a real hot rod which flew for the first time this spring. This is way out on the end of the experimental limb of sport aviation. This is the only installation of this engine that we are aware of. It now has over 40 hours and all of the landings have been at the intended destination! So far, so good. Silky smooth! Did I mention fast? [GALLERY=media, 3575]Images by Litespeed posted Oct 2, 2015 at 8:21 PM[/GALLERY][GALLERY=media, 3575]Images by Litespeed posted Oct 2, 2015 at 8:21 PM[/GALLERY]

The Aeromomentum Engines are brand new factory built engines not a recycled one- so makes a good price point for all new. All of them look pretty good but I think I would probably either stick to a 2nd jabiru or by a redrive and do the same as above. As a different slant to look at would be this- use a K1200rs motor from BMW bike- 1200 cc 130hp, big flattish torque curve, mega reliable, already injected and a car style/rotax like redrive will bolt straight on. The motor is already on its side and very compact, very easy to work on and a brick reputation. A motor would be from $1000-$2000 for a real good one. I know these are not common due to weight over the twin but when compared to a car motor they can make a lot of sense. OR just do a BMW twin and be happy. Just a thought

A ppl maybe, but this is a RAA reg aircraft and thus is a Pilots certificate not licence. So I expect the rules are different maybe?

Does it not matter from a CASA and RAA point of view that he is in fact a employee of hers directly? But that is a mere mosquito buzzing around- it is the big angry elephant in the room they should be worried about.

As a aside what is the cost of building a nice hangar- nothing flash but with mezzainine level and concrete floor? I assume country prices not rip city ones. And can you make accomodation and live in the hangar or must it be a separate house? Big questions for cheapskate like me. Thanks in advance

I think the whole episode will have much more packed into the cannon before Ashby and Hansen stumble past and blow themselves up as they cry of Fake News. I have popcorn and beer.............

And that worked real well didn't- oh the irony, gaming the system to remove opposition- only to end of with even more of them. The LNP could only have done better by shooting themselves in the Head. Now that would make good TV. It could be filmed by Jabiru.......

I don't think Pauline expects to write much good policy and will rely and her right hand man/executioner/money man/pilot cum chief of staff to have found suitable donors to write policy for her. Getting the donors to decide policy is something of a policy in it self in has even infected councils and it appears those that disinfected themselves are no longer separate councils.(some notable exceptions- Auburn stank too much even for the libs.) And here in lies the rub- its a complete fraud on the democracy itself and therefore a crime against ever citizen when a member of parliament/senate and/or their staff hide their sources of money/aircraft or even influence by donors. We have a constitution and massive case law/rules etc to prevent this and protect our society. It matters not who or why it was done by-merely that it was attempted or indeed suceeded. No exceptions. Any mention of Peter Slipper is a complete smokescreen- he was targetted unfairly over some few hundred dollars of car expenses incorrectly claimed. He was attacked because the government wanted to replace him as speaker and get Mal Brough into his seat. The big crimes were the actions of Brough and Ashby- even admitted on tv but when investigated Brough was never charged and the feds as per usual did nothing and dropped the case. Nothing seems to change. Meanwhile Tony Abbott celebrated what a great investment he made by staying at the Federal police barracks when in Canberra- Mates look after Mates it would seem. And we keep getting told to look the other way at the flying pink elephant..............

I think the don't know are because you have not given them a situation that might justify to them a reason to break the law. Some may say bending/breaking the rules for RAA plane use is fine if you don't get caught for mere practical reasons. But that is entirely different to the major laws and issues which has nothing to do with aviation rules but a Senator hiding large donations. How many would think that is a law to break and we should not be concerned?

I do not in any way see people are attacking her for flying in a Jabiru. The plane is completely incidental except that it is the means the dodgyness has been exposed by its use and donation. No one is complaining it should be a Airpus, Boring, Cesspool or whatever. No one is saying she can't legitimately fly around to do parliamentary bussiness or even pre election stuff. As long as the CASA crap and RAA rules are followed- great good on her. What is been said- is the money trail, people involved and their connections with a total refusal to follow the electoral act and parliamentry rules for officeholders, their staff and party organisations- appears to be a huge smelly pile of trouble. It gives the appearance of a fire, smells like a fire and we can certainly see smoke.....and some are getting a very warm feeling on their feet. I wonder if there is a Fire? The only saving grace for us aircraft lovers is they had the good sense (but less face it not many better alternatives and spent the $100k ish on a Jabiru) to pick a great Aussie machine. And I will be straight up front- I have no care for Pauline but nor do I for most pollies. Just because some may like her does not make the smell or fire go out. All pollies should be 100% accountable and anyone in a relationship business or political/personal with them. No exceptions, not even for red head fish shop mongers. And before I am slammed for been a left wing green loving pinko commie- Which is mostly true.

The plot thickens- latest from ABC is Former One Nation members say McNee bought Hanson's plane Basically McNee and his partner stayed at Paulines then donated $70,000 in cash and approx $100,000 for the plane and she even thanked them in her maiden speech. Now they claim to have never being to dinner, never stayed there and he certianly does not know the women (who sits in parilament next to him in photo and stayed with him in bed at paulines) . And he insists he never donated anything. He must think this is the White House and will claim bull on anything even with evidence in front of him. Ah the mind boggles- this could get very interesting.........................meanwhile back at the pig pen..............Malcom is happy for any distraction.......and Tony is stomping around in Lycra. But the relevant thing is the whole shebang is around a Proudly Aussie Aircraft. A Jabiru is the star for all the right reasons.

If she is hiring the plane then it is a major legal problem for her. You can't make cross hire payments to a office holder and Ashby is party sec and head of staff And you certainly can't not declare the donation, the mind boggles they think this is OK. But then they have learnt from the gravy train. The only thing that might save them is a friendly slap from the gov and say no more to keep her on side. Yes we should have limited ability to use for business but not much

Wake up fellas It is all about a undeclared donation of $100 k form a developer and refusal to declare. Shady stuff that got her to jail last time is the issue. James Ashby is a very slippery snake and will bite her

I am not offended at all but you seem to be. A stormsail is not something you set and forget, it can be had in many sizes and be reefed as needed. My advocacy was always to get away from the storm and follow good practice of the ages. The photos and comments of others are a fair judge of my level of understanding, stupidity or nonsense. I am surprised if you took the time to read my long post, that you still appear to misunderstand my words. And my name is not champ- it is Litespeed or Phil.

Mmmmmmm- If you had actually read my posts and those I later did, then you sure have a strange interpretation. I said the best option when given a long notice of several days, in this case it was quite a big amount of notice. Was get the hell out of dodge can be the best bet on a quality sailboat. I never said go splash about heading into a CAT 4 or any other such nonsense. Not everyone has the luxury of just damning the boat to almost certain destruction, insurance will rarely cover the full losses and for some it is also their home and/or livelyhood and they have their entire lifes savings invested in it. And insurance can deem you carelessly left it to the storm and not pay a cent- it has happened. Leaving to head to a better safe harbour that is far more protected/lower tidal variation/ or a substantial distance inland if a river system is available is a NO Brainer. However unless you are lucky- mangroves will not be bugger all help with any substantial tidal zone and the risk of a large storm surge- many a boat has found itself picked up and perched high and dry after the event and damaged or destroyed. Or stuck fast in the mangroves far from the anchor point and virtually a total loss-because to remove it would cause huge damage to the mangroves- which has happened a lot. The same enhanced safety can be had by heading in the opposite direction of the cyclones track Ie in this case it was go North or head South Easterly with all available speed. Any yacht with adequate power often a mere 20-36hp can do a easy 6knots and a great deal more with sails 24hrs a day and can cover a great distance in the 5-7 days it was obvious what was coming to the general area. That is 720 nautical miles in 5 days or 1008 nautical miles in the week preceding landfall. Under sail with the weather of the last week or so a better estimate with sail can be a easy 1600 nautical miles in 7 days. Once you are away from the expected landfall of the cyclone you can chose to ride it out or go to a more sheltered anchorage. Ships and sailboats have done this for thousands of years and a well designed and sailed sailboat can take the punishment the sea can through at it far more than it can survive been driven onto the rocks. Bar none been driven onto the rocks/shore etc has always been the greatest killer of the seas and storms. If getting easily away from the cyclone track by 720- 1600 nautical miles at least from the main danger is your idea of stupidity then maybe flying is not for you or sailing. That is a very long way from the main thrust of the cyclones power and even down the coast that far it its merely a big storm- just ride it out in the safety of your yacht. How "stupid" do you think the people who just left their boats to fend for themselves feel? Or the unlucky plane owners who figured the tie downs would work rather than fly it a far safer spot far inland? The news is full of pictures of boats and some planes destroyed all by "smart" owners. Bet they are feeling real smug about now. Probably about as smug as those that chose to leave their caravans rather than drive it inland for protection. Ever seen what a cyclone does to a caravan? But what would I know I am "stupid" as must many a salty sailor over thousands of years. So "stupid" that it is a complete dereliction of duty and court martial capital crime in navies around the world not to head for safer waters or a more sheltered bay far away. Bet the "smart" ones felt real smug when hung for the offence in colonial days- assuming they lived after trashing the ship and its crew. I am happy to stay "stupid". It is not like yachts have never been at sea and encountered a cyclone/storm tsunami - happens all the time and well sailed and safe design rarely make it deadly encounter. Some may even be shocked to learn the advice for boats when a tsunami is possible- head to sea will all speed. It is literally the only safe place to be- any ship/boat at anchor near shore will next be inland a far way.

Yes agreed, that is why boaties should get the hell away from Dodge as soon as the bureau confirms it is coming- in this case it has been noted with many days to sail away and head North or south east with all speed. A slow yacht will do 140 nm a day under power, a lot more under sail. That really adds up quickly with many days of notice.

Some would say its is crazy at sea- Yes it is like been stuck inside a washing machine. But I would rather be out there then in a mangrove with a 8-10m surge- most would be ripped clean of the anchor points and may end up, who knows where. A quality yacht can batten down , set small storm sails and ride it out. Been done that way for centuries. Naturally it would be best to head away from the area well before the storm approaches. Each to their own- stay safe and yes boats an planes can be replaced.

Good luck guys, I hope those that can have flown the coop to safety- anywhere two hundred miles west or more sounds a better idea than battening down and hoping. I also hope all the guys with boats-sailing have gone to sea for safety- nothing more dangerous than a boat at anchor in a cyclone. Best to head out to deep water and ride it out- far safer than in port. Good luck guys and keep your head down.

That sure is lust

Bicarb soda blasting is the answer. Gentle and just washes away. Safe and alloy friendly