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For a number
of years now I have covered the progress of the Motavia
engine. When it first appeared at Sun N Fun, it looked like
the answer many pilots were waiting for. A four stroke 80 hp
engine with a weight comparable to that of the 582 Rotax.
Add to this
the fact that is mounting pattern was the same as the 582
and you had a "recipe" for an instant market - that of a
replacement for the Rotax 582.
Well time went
by and NO engines were being delivered! The factory and the
U.S. distributor parted ways. Production at various times
was reported halted as "changes" for the better were
introduced. However orders and deposits were being taken.
Then at Sun N Fun an aircraft was displayed and flying on a
trike. Several manufacturers were promised delivery soon
after.
At last years
show I expected to see several planes flying with the new
Motavia engine, but couldn't find any. Checking around I was
told that while a couple of "proto-type" engines had been
delivered the gear boxes were not up to task and "literally
self destructed while being run up."
At Sun N Fun
this year a new manufacturer from Africa had acquired the
design. Then at Airventure YET another New manufacturer
Klaymor Ltd.
Klaymor Ltd.
is based in England, they had three engines on display with
two for sale. They also had one mounted on a new Kolb which
was flying in to the show. It was late arriving - apparently
the engine was having an overheating problem when being used
in a pusher configuration.
It will be
interesting to see whether Klaymor Ltd. will be able to
overcome the "history" of lost deposits, and failure to pay
advertising bills, after all it is the magazines that
promote the product - that the previous producers have left
them with. |
