Viking Engine

[fastj22]

The Onex is an interesting turn.
I sat in the original Onex last spring. It was remarked to be a bit tail heavy and the heavier Viking might work well. Also, the Onex has a flat firewall and no fuel tray issue.
But the width might be an issue. The Aerovee valve covers stuck out of the sides of the cowl.

[rizzz]

Well looks like we spoke too soon again.

Jan claims:

The oned being built next door is a OneX and will go to the land of the Vikings.

Jan

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vikingair ... ssage/1100

Then the person actually building the Onex comes back and says:

Hi Don,

I am the one building the Onex... Kit is supposed to be delivered first week of January, next door to the Viking Engine factory. I am building it for educational purposes, as I am excited and curious about this folding wing, aerobatic, single place aircraft. I will be documenting the build on video and will be looking for someone to take it off my hands prior to engine and panel selection (I already fly a Zenith 701 and and cannot afford more than 1 aircraft at a time). A great opportunity to be fitted for a Viking engine... but the ultimate "owner" will obviously have some input on that!

Jon

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vikingair ... ssage/1102


I'm starting to think you can't trust anything that guy says.

[Sonex1517]

I've been trying to figure out how to say this politely for some time....so here goes.

A good friend was building a well known high wing kit, and decided to buy a Subaru conversion for it....As I have mentioned before, things for my friend did not go well regarding this engine. He was left with an expensive boat anchor. The company is out of business.

Why post this here? Um...let me say this delicately as the Internet is public and I know what I write is also.

My friend's experience should not be one anyone else lives through. In fact, he could not complete his beautiful kit due to this - it is on indefinite hold since the engine he bought cannot be used and he has spent the money he set aside.

His workmanship is incredible. He is a craftsman and it shows. It was a lesson for me personally as I finally made the move to build an airplane.

There is a reason I am writing this in the thread I am posting in.

I have asked my friend to write up his experience, and he has agreed. I cannot imagine what he is feeling or what he has gone through, knowing he has an airplane that he cannot complete.

I will find a way to get it here once I am able to figure out how without getting myself into trouble doing so.

But if you are reading this thread, then read this post and consider. It is relevant to the topic.




Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Aerovee/taildragger
Starting on the wings
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[fastj22]

Is any Sonex builder getting a December Viking? Are the engines on schedule?

[rizzz]

Is any Sonex builder getting a December Viking? Are the engines on schedule?

Not sure there are any Sonex builders in the December batch, but this message from Jan on the yahoo groups makes me believe the engines are not on schedule:

Engines for December are 90% done. Mostly waiting for gears for the reduction drive. Seems like we are at the mercy of the gear manufacturers every time since not too many will deal with aviation. Sound familiar :)

Jan

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vikingair ... ssage/1108

As usual it is not his fault off course.
(He seems to ignore the fact that his customers are dealing with him, not his suppliers, whatever reason behind any delay is therefore his responsibility)

[rizzz]

We now have 25 engines ready, less the 2 gears for the gearboxes. We will send out engines the 2 first weeks in January. We are now getting in touch with customers individually

Jan

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vikingair ... ssage/1193

[fastj22]

Interesting development. Got a call from Viking last week asking for another deposit for an April shipment. I told the lady that I wasn't going to go with the Viking and would like my deposit back. She said that she could make that happen. So far, I guess I haven't lost my deposit. Yet. Looks like several Sonex builders are on the January (was Dec, was Oct ,was Sept) shipments. I really do hope this works for them. I still think this could be a great power plant for a Sonex.

[rizzz]

The searay viking that flew recently is "upgrading" to the rotax 914, the viking engine is on barnstormers for $8000:
http://www.barnstormers.com/ad_detail.php?ID=620764

Wonder what happened, why is he selling only weeks after his first flight?

Here's Jan's explanation:

The owner wrote me to express his thanks for everything that we have done so
far. However, any R&D process does take time. Some of the issues were airplane
related, some were engine. This owner never signed up to be a test pilot and we
understand this. (I love the testing part and have done all the other airplanes
:)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vikingair ... ssage/1252

So there were "some issues" with plane and engine, somehow I think there is more to this story.
The builder knew he all along that he would be one of the first to fly this engine and therefore he would be a test pilot in that sense, why would this all of the sudden bother him so much?

[fastj22]

This is not a positive development. I'm afraid jan is getting distracted trying to prove his engine in too many designs. An amphib pusher? Why not a few more zenith or at least one sonex? Prove your design in a few popular designs, and do it more than once. What ever happened to the rv12?

[fastj22]

I just realized its for sale for $8000. Jan should have bought it back for that. Two reasons, get it off the market and avoid any negative feedback, and he could recycle it back into his future sales. Either way, he has to get this off barnstormers, stat.