Rotec radial engines

[sigurjon]

Hi all,
First of all, I´d like to introduce myself. My name is Sigurjon Valsson. I live in Iceland (most of the time) and I´m an Airbus A300-600 captain for Air Atlanta Icelandic. On the side I do a bit of GA stuff, instructing and just general flying around. I´ve got a Miles Gemini G-AKEK (now registered as TF-GEM) in bits on my hangar floor. I hope to fly her before I turn 65 ;D

The reason for this first post of mine is to try and find out a little bit about the Rotec radial engines produced in Australia. This info is needed because there are a two of us contemplating building a Hatz to be powered (hopefully) with a Rotec.

What I need to know is if the engine has any known "issues", ie. a known weakness? Does anyone know what the parts support is like? It is an engine, and as such WILL break down at some time or another. A good parts support is essential to keep an aircraft flying.

I´ve been doing a little google search, and basically all I can find is a less than complimentary american website about the engine, but reading through it, it becomes apparent that the engine is not the great issue. It´s more of a disagreement between the factory and the individual involved. What causes me a bit more concern is an ad I found on barnstormers.com a few months back, where a brand new engine (in the box) was offered for sale for $7000 (1/3 of a new one). Reason given for the sale was, you can get parts for Lycoming and everyone knows how to maintain one, or words to that effect. Again this might be an american view, based on how easy it is to find full support for a Lyc. in the US.

Your thoughts on this matter would be highly appreciated.

All the best,
Sigurjon

[yak2]

Hi Sigurjon
Welcome to the forum.
I live about 25km from the Rotec factory, and know a little bit about them and their engines. At one time I was considering a 3600, but it was not quite powerful enough for my project. However for something lighter, such as the Hatz, I think it would be an excellent choice. In my opinion it should not be compared with a Lycoming or other volume production engine. It is designed for homebuilders/experimental type aircraft, and is priced accordingly.
It really has the looks and sound to add a classic character to an appropriate airframe. The only operational issue I have heard is that care is needed to clear oil from the lower cylinders before starting to prevent an hydraulic lock, which is typical of radials. I understand that there are 2 sides to the US distributor dispute. On another matter, you may recognise the guy in the rear seat of my Yak 52. Pic was taken in 2005 and he was the then CEO of Air Atlantic. Can't recall his name, but he was visiting Tyabb airfield with a few other AA pilots. The company was involved in the delivery of F1 cars for the Australian GP in Melbourne. Small world
Good luck with your project.
Cheers
Rob Wettenhall

[sigurjon]

Thanks Rob,
I do not have any issues with clearing oil from the cylinders. For me, that is normal for radials. I´ve operated an M-14 in a YAK-55 for a few years before it was crashed, not by me, I hasten to add If that is the only issue Rotec have, they are doing very well. Somehow I thought there might be other more serious issues.

Regarding the CEO of Air Atlanta at the time (2005), I think I can just about make out his face there. I was not able to enlarge our picture to see him face to face so to speak ;D If it is who I think he is, it is Arngrimur Johannsson. He sold his share in the airline a couple of years ago when he had to retire as a pilot due to age. He is now living in the north of Iceland collecting aircraft to enjoy his retirement. His collection at this time includes a DC-3 based in the UK, a J-3 Cub, Do-28, couple of PA-18´s, Blanic glider, an Ercoupe wreck, Pitts S-1, an amphibious Beaver and no doubt some other things I´ve no idea about!

This was a slight thread creap! Does anyone know about any issues with Rotec engines?

[yak2]

That name rings a bell. From memory he was also involved in the experimental/homebuilt aircraft movement in Iceland.
re Rotec service experience. You could enquire thru the Sport Aircraft Association Of Australia and EAA.

[sigurjon]

EAA, as good as they are, do not seem to have anything. Maybe I do not know how to search.

Where do I do get to the Sport Aircraft Association Of Australia? Too lazy to use google ;D

Arngrimur has been very heavily involved in the homebuilt movement here in Iceland. He has built nothing himself, but has had a superman working for him for years. That superman is Einar Pall Einarsson, who is doing all the work.

[Bruce]

There are a number or Rotecs going on to homebuilt projects in New zealand. Well known Corsair Pilot Keith Skilling is putting one in his Highlander aircraft. In general the word is that craftsmanship is superb and there are no issues at all with build quality, although they are quite expensive and production lead time is still quite long. They havent done the hours in NZ yet to get any reliability trends however. In general Radials do require a little more care with handling than flat engines, and of course with lower production numbers spares and technical support levels will be lower than Lycoming or contimentals.
I'd love to build a scale warbird to go behind one - an F6F Hellcat with folding wings has some appeal.... (first get my existing project going before starting the next!)

[philip]

Do a google search on "Volker Heydecke". He's putting together a scale Polikarpov I-16 with a Rotec R3600 and I'm sure is happy to swap stories

[b10m]

One size fits all.

www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1Xo429

[sigurjon]

Thank you all for your replies.

The blueprints for the Hatz have now been ordered It will remain a mystery if it ever gets built, as we are only buying them to "look" at them. Knowing the track record of my partner in crime, we should have a flying aircraft in about 3 years time (if he likes the drawings ;D ). Whether it will be powered by a Rotec or something else remains to be seen, but I sure like the sound of that engine ;D

[yak2]

Nice choice Sigurjon. Good luck with the project and keep us posted with your progress. ie. lots of photo's

[sigurjon]

We have to start the bloody thing before I start posting photos ;D Let´s just imagine the blueprints are in the post. If they get lost in the post you will not hear anything more ;D

The truth of it all is, I´ve got more than enough of a project on my hands with the Gemini. If my partner in crime builds this one it is going to be with my blessing only (and maybe some material help). I´ll not go anywhere near it as the actual build is concerned and he knows that. I´ll, however, be please to test fly it

[JDK]

G'day Sigurjon,
I hope you are still watching this thread. Geoff & Ron are putting a Rotec in the Boxkite project ( www.boxkite2014.org ) and as reliable power is even more critical in such a marginal speeds type, they are obviously prepared to bet on it. The support they've had from Rotec so far has been A1, including welding up a unique engine mount and 'reversing' the exhausts. It has yet to fly, you'll know when it does!
HTH.

[sigurjon]

Ahem...... I do not frequent these forums as can be seen by the time I´ve taken to reply to the last post!

James, Thank you very much, I´d like to know how the project gets on. That Rotec will probably have a couple of hundred hours on it even before we have to decide on the exact engine for the Hatz ;D

The news on the Hatz, well actually there are no news The drawings arrived safe from the post, so I can no longer use that excuse! The timber for the wings is under some "consideration" now, and we should have some progress on the wings in a few months time ;D

[martin]

Hi Sig,

I hope you have made some progress on your Hatz project. A friend of mine has started on his, and will be using the R3600 Rotec for power. I have an R3600 in a Spacewalker and it performs much better than others that have fitted a Lycoming O-320, I guess because is can swing a much bigger prop. Fuel burn is about the same as an O-320, at least the same as the one in my RV6, but I have done a recent 14 hour cross-country flight and burned an average of 18 litres per hour at 75 kts. No problems whatsover with the engine. It is a lovely unit, low maintenance, smooth, and sounds great.

[stearmoth]

Hi all interested in the Rotec R3600,

We are a father and son team from Switzerland building a modified Hatz Classic biplane using the Rotec R3600 radial engine. We name it "Vintage Hatz" ans it is a melting of a Waco ASO/ATO with a Waco QCF using the Hatz Classic design as a basis. It is our aim to get in touch with all builders using this engine. You all might know that only about 3 engines are flying and we would like to learnt about any experience with this engine. Please check our website at www.aeroplaneworks.ch

Happy building
Hans & Sam Gautschi, Switzerland

[Dave Homewood]

Welcome to the forum Martin, Hans and Sam

[paulc]

I have an R3600 powered Hatz CB1 in the works and I know the Rotec company like the back of my hand wink!

After flying in Martin Hone’s magnificent R3600 powered Space Walker, I was blown away with the power, sound, and smoothness of the R3600 engine. I cant wait to get mine flying now.

Rotec started making radials in 1999, they have produced over 600 units in 10 years, you do not survive in this game that long with a new product unless you're doing something right!

The R3600 was introduced in mid 1995 and benefitted from all the data accumulated on the R2800 engine, which in its own right has been a very successful design. Both engines share 90% the same parts. Out of the box the R3600 was a strong unit and has had only very minor alterations done in the 6 years of production. A single oil pump issue was very quickly fixed.

The previously mentioned, bitter website, should be seen for what it is.....a business relationship gone sour. This should in no way reflect at all on Rotec products or after sales service both of which are excellent.

But don’t take my word for it. See testimonies with contact details here: www.rotecengines.com/Testimonials.html

Hans and Sam have had an R3600 engine on order for 5 years! The engine mounted on their Hatz is not theirs, it’s been borrowed from one Rotec’s good customers.

[paulc]

Martin Hone's R3600 SpacewalkerII

Attachments:

[paulc]

John Kerr's R3600 Hatz Classic

Attachments:

[r28r36]

[quote author=sigurjon board=experimental thread=8545

I´ve been doing a little google search, and basically all I can find is a less than complimentary american website a
Sigurjon[/quote][/i]


Worth another look at www.rotecradial.com/ there are some major changes...

If there was a problem surely Rotec could not have survived since the year 2000? They must be doing something right