Viking Engine

[fastj22]

I am one who has paid Jan the initial deposit to take advantage of his OSH discount.
This RV12 episode has raised great concerns on his ability to deliver a working powerplant for the Sonex.
If I were an RV12 builder who also paid a deposit, I'd be demanding everything back from him. Joking or not.
I will wait to see how thing progress in the next few months, but my confidence in Viking is not high.

[rizzz]

I am one who has paid Jan the initial deposit to take advantage of his OSH discount.
This RV12 episode has raised great concerns on his ability to deliver a working powerplant for the Sonex.
If I were an RV12 builder who also paid a deposit, I'd be demanding everything back from him. Joking or not.
I will wait to see how thing progress in the next few months, but my confidence in Viking is not high.

I

[fastj22]

At OSH, he promised (or at least said) late October. Two weeks later, that turned to December. OK, I can work with that.
I received an invoice for the second deposit of $5,000 a week ago to secure my December delivery.
Before I sent him a check, I sent an email with concerns on prop selection and fuel system modifications.
No reply. No reply means more money. Ain't throwing more money down a hole without even a response.
I re-sent the email 3 days later. Its been a week and still no reply. Hence, no more money.
Then this episode with the RV12.
My confidence is shaken.
I will hold my initial deposit with him, but am very skeptical on his ability to deliver a working Sonex installation.
Sad thing is, I really like his design. It think it really is a great alternative.

[rizzz]

At OSH, he promised (or at least said) late October. Two weeks later, that turned to December. OK, I can work with that.
I received an invoice for the second deposit of $5,000 a week ago to secure my December delivery.
Before I sent him a check, I sent an email with concerns on prop selection and fuel system modifications.
No reply. No reply means more money. Ain't throwing more money down a hole without even a response.
I re-sent the email 3 days later. Its been a week and still no reply. Hence, no more money.
Then this episode with the RV12.
My confidence is shaken.
I will hold my initial deposit with him, but am very skeptical on his ability to deliver a working Sonex installation.
Sad thing is, I really like his design. It think it really is a great alternative.

Hmmm, this is indeed disturbing, not a good start at all.

[fastj22]

Needless to say,
I am keeping my options open. My airframe (less engine) will be finished before December.
If the Viking is not a viable option, I will go with the Jabiru, probably with water cooled heads.
I will be flying by June 2012 regardless!

[fastj22]

Just an update. I did get a response to my emails from Jan. He answered all my questions. I also uploaded some pictures of the fuel tank/filler tank issue to his website.
Right now I'm holding my second deposit until some progress is made on the Sonex. I won't be part of the December deliveries. He indicated on his forum that the guy who does videos on kit builds will be doing a Sonex and installing a Viking. That will happen this fall hopefully. I always can fall back on the Jabiru 3300 if things just aren't positive by early 2012.
So right now I'm concentrating on my build. Fuselage is done to the point of rigging the wings which will be next weekend. I'd like to get the canopy installed before the snow flys.

[chris]

Thanks for the update. It will be very interesting to see how your experience with the Viking progresses...

[rizzz]

Today Jan posts on his Viking yahoo group:

Viking Aircraft engines will participate at the Zenith fly-in in Mexico MO this
month.

A wireing diagram was completed for the engine installation today. It will be
on the installation page of the web site for review and criticism sometime
tomorrow. The plan is to offer this as a completed module. It would have the
primary and backup switch, along with the ECU select relay, the fuse holders,
etc. mounted and pre wired.

The engine is not difficult to wire. Power and ground and it will run. It is
just nice to have a sound backup system.

Many updates are already available for the Viking and will be incorporated in
this next batch of deliveries. Most of these can be added to existing engines. A
page on the web site will outline these, as we progress. We test flew a 3
chamber muffler today and were able to maintain maximum power output with
further reduction of sound. The tailpipe strength was also increased to allow
for extensions to be added, if needed.

Tomorrow I will start with an explanation of other engine systems and
operational considerations.

Jan

The statement I've put in bold here concerns me.

Again this shows that the Viking is still under development, and should not be shipped to customers yet.
Also, I read from this that unlucky people who have already received their engines will not be able to install some of these updates.

I think this is it for me, I am not considering the Viking as an option anymore, I will go with my original plan and get me one of the VW conversions, not sure which yet.
I'm ordering my remaining welded components, incl. motor mount, next month or so, so that will be the final decision point.

[fastj22]

What bothered me is he is now offering a different gear ratio for the redrive to match the higher RPM and smaller prop of the Jabiru/Sonex install. At OSH he said he had a deal with Sensonich to produce a three blade adjustable that would meet the Sonex smaller stance. Now, will he just use the two blade prop for the Jab 3300?
Not much comfort here. Only after a few Sonex are flying will the Viking will it be a option for me.
I still think it has great potential.

[142YX]

In my humble opinion, if using your own money and airframe to be part of an engine test flight program sounds fun, than the Viking sounds like a good match. If you don't want to be part of an engine test program, than don't use this engine.