SonexBuilders.net

Hi. I was wondering if anyone has done light aerobatics in their Rotax Powered Sonex./Waiex/Onex? I have heard that there are some issues with flying aerobatics with a rotax powered plane.

I can't imagine why there would be any issues aside from negative Gs. I don't do a lot of aerobatics, but I've pulled 4 G's and done rolls and spins. What problems did you hear about?

Rusty

The 912 operating manual limits zero g or negative g flight to 5 seconds.

Five seconds is a long time for normal people. Don’t worry about it.

Gordon

13brv3 wrote:I can't imagine why there would be any issues aside from negative Gs. I don't do a lot of aerobatics, but I've pulled 4 G's and done rolls and spins. What problems did you hear about?

Rusty

I thought that aerobatics were banned for 912s. If it is just a matter of no negative or neutral g aerobatics for more than 5 seconds, that is much more acceptable. I only wanted to do light "gentleman" aerobatics.

mcjon77 wrote:I thought that aerobatics were banned for 912s. If it is just a matter of no negative or neutral g aerobatics for more than 5 seconds, that is much more acceptable. I only wanted to do light "gentleman" aerobatics.

Rotax seems to have a lot of rules, but I've never heard one for aerobatics. As long as you maintain positive Gs, the engine doesn't know if you're upside down. They set specific limits for how high your oil tank can be, so I have to believe you're fine as long as you stay in the accepted range.

I had inverted fuel and oil on an RV-8 I built decades ago. Even with a younger brain, negative Gs got old fast. My current old brain doesn't even want to think about it :-)

Rusty

I do miss -1G. Was good to stop level inverted before rolling out at the top of an immelmann.

I have done loops, rolls, spins ect in mine since installing the rotax but have held some trepidation about stall turns. I used to love doing them with the aerovee but haven't tried one yet with the Rotax. What's people's thoughts about them?
Thanks