Andrew,
I am aware Jabiru here in Australia are selling a complete fwf kit for the
Europa, so the question is "why do you think you can do it better than what
is already on offer out of Australia?". I know for a fact that the Jabiru
3300 cowling makes it the nicest lines of any Europa, but that is my
opinion. Standing by....................
Reg
Tony Renshaw
Sydney Australia.
P.S. I am still undecided as to which engine I am going to go with.
At 10:17 AM 9/20/2004, you wrote:
>
>Andrew,
>
>You're not alone in your views about the 'firewall-forward' part of the
>kit-build so often conveniently overlooked by kit manufacturers! I fairness
>I suppose, to all kit companies (except Jabiru, who I think are unique
>selling both aircraft and engines), the Firewall-Forward is 'Somebody Else's
>Problem'. Kit manufacturers tend to concentrate on airframe support, and why
>not? Having said that, I do applaud Europa's long-standing support for the
>Rotax setups and I'm not here to rubbish Rotax in favor of Jabiru. However
>(!), I ask potential engine customers to consider the following issues:
>
>1. Simplicity. The Jabiru is designed as an aircraft engine, uses all
>'aircraft' (AN/SAE) fastenings, is direct-drive and air cooled. No gearbox,
>radiator, header tank, fluid pipework, etc.
>2. Reliability. Jabiru engines have a 2000 hour TBO, with a 1000 hour
>recommended top-end overhaul - essentially changing the piston rings and
>re-honing the bores, and maybe re-seating the valve seats if necessary. No
>need to split the crankcase until 2000 hours.
>3. Cost of ownership. Jabiru parts are around 1/2 the cost of equivalent
>Rotax parts, and the cost of TBO overhaul, parts and labor, is currently
>around $6500 all-in, and remember it's at 2000 hours, so the cost-per-hour
>is very competitive with those having lower published TBOs.
>4. Flexibility in use. The engine runs equally well on AvGas or premium
>auto-gas (minimum 93 Octane), and uses regular aviation oil.
>5. Sound. The Jabiru's maximum RPM is 3300, not over 6000.
>
>OK, that's about as close as I'll get to a hard-sell on here; I respect that
>these lists are for inter-owner technical information and opinion and not
>necessarily for heavy marketing or 'our product is better than theirs'. All
>I ask is that prospective customers look closely at the alternatives and
>decide based on their own preferences. I'll be happy to provide more
>information or enter discussion here if members are interested....
>
>Andy Silvester
>
>Suncoast Sportplanes, Inc.
>www.suncoastjabiru.com
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
>[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of
>ACJARVIS1@aol.com
>To: europa-list@matronics.com
>Subject: Re: Europa-List: Jabiru 3300 Engine option
>
>
>Being at heart a glider pilot, when I started on this homebuild lark I had
>naively thought one's problems were just about over when the airframe was
>built . I imagined you just bolt in the engine, probably a Rotax, connect
>the fuel
>and some wires, and the rest just happened. I now have a sneaking feeling
>it's not that simple....
>
> Reading all the technical snags people are running into makes me wonder. I
>know for a fact that if snags are out there, I will get the lot.
>
>At least I have the luxury of time before I have to send someone another
>huge sum of money (for the engine that is- and maybe this time I'll get the
>
>goods I paid for.) But now a new dilemma- should the money go to Austria or
>Australia?
>
> My point is , no doubt many builders would be very interested in a nicely
>cowled Jabiru option; but would it be a better choice than the Rotax? if so
>will it be easier to fit, more reliable, more economical, etc etc?
>Obviously
>the hiatus in Kirkbymoorside offers Jabiru an ideal chance to come up with a
>
>brand new firewall- forward package, but ....how does one decide which
>engine to
>buy? And then what about these diesels? Heavy and smelly but so much
>simpler...so ,sell me an engine, Andy at Suncoast Sportplanes!
>
>
>Andrew Jarvis 599 [wingless wonder]
>
>
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