The Truth About Engines?
Ultralight and or Amateur built aircraft are not required to use the very expensive certificated engines required in Cessnas, Helicopters and the likes of general GA flying,but we still want to fly with the safest engines we can, thus Rotax aircraft engines are the overwhelming choice for small aircraft. There are tens of thousands of them flying worldwide. These engines meet ASTM standards and are specifically designed for light aircraft. The largest engines Rotax makes are in the 100 horsepower range or up to 122 HP with Turbo boosting. If an aircraft design is too heavy or too aerodynamically inefficient the designer has no choice but to chase the diminishing returns of more horsepower. However if he needs more than 122 horsepower he now faces a significant comprise in his aircraft’s safety as there are no reasonably priced aircraft engines in the 120-200 horsepower range. Most designers caught in this difficult bind are forced to use Subaru car engines scavenged from car junk yards
