7 April 2016
Rotax has given its new 135hp 915iS engine its first flight and more than 40 aircraft manufacturers say they want to use the engine in their aircraft, according to an update on the 915’s progress given at the Sun ‘n Fun airshow being staged in the USA this week.
The 915 is a 4- stroke, 4-cylinder turbocharged aircraft engine with intercooler and a redundant fuel injection system. Austrian manufacturer Rotax said it is scheduled for serial production in the second half of 2017.
“The development process has advanced to the extent so that the maiden flight of the Rotax 915 iS aircraft engine was performed on March 12, 2016 at the airfield in Wels, Austria,” said Marc Becker, sales manager, Rotax Aircraft Business.
“Since that date our test pilot is testing the engine in real flight mode as often as the weather allows it. In addition to that the engine has run more than 3,000 operating hours on the test bench.” The test flight was in an Aquila 210 aircraft (see photo above).
The new 915iS engine from Roax develops 135hp.
The target market for the 915 is high performance 2-seater and 4-seater aircraft, small helicopters and larger gyrocopters, said Rotax.
“This more powerful 135hp Rotax aircraft engine offers a lot of benefits for the pilot. From the best power-to-weight ratio in its class, full take-off power up to 15,000ft (4,570m), a service ceiling of 23,000ft (7,010m), better fuel efficiency due to the electronic fuel injection concept, hence lower operating cost up to the ease of use.”
