SonexBuilders.net

I am new to the group. I am thinking of buying a waiex and putting in a viking 90 engine. Can someone give me information on performancez, quality, practicality, etc. about this possible marriage?

Welcome to the group!

When it comes to the Viking engine, there are people who love them, and ....well, others not so much.

It has less to do with the engine than the person that developed it. You mentioned marriage....some people consider this person a cheater....

There are many engine choices. I hope the one you choose is best for your situation and if it is the Viking, there are some successful Sonex installations that seem to be very good.

gfazzola wrote:I am new to the group. I am thinking of buying a waiex and putting in a viking 90 engine. Can someone give me information on performancez, quality, practicality, etc. about this possible marriage?

I will echo the statement that Viking (and the main person behind it, who used to push a couple of other unusual engines) brings a lot of strong opinions to the conversation. I’ll try not to inject my own, but instead pose a question for you:

Why?

With the AeroVee, Jabiru, Corvair, Rotax, and ULPower all being viable options which have flown on Sonexes, what is it that the Viking offers that these others don’t? What about your intended mission / flight profile makes the Viking a better choice than the others?

Just like aircraft, engines are a series of compromises. Make sure you understand what trade offs have been made in the engines you’re interested in, and how they meet (or diverge from) the way you intend to operate your aircraft.

Take care,

—Noel
Sonex #1339, AeroVee Turbo, in the process of being painted before first flight

I will also throw out aeromomentum as a viable option with less animosity in the community.

Welcome to the group!

Like Robbie says there is definitely a polarized view when anyone brings up Viking engines. Based on the owner, the history of the company, and a fellow builder/friend's negative experience with his Viking I decided to stay away from Viking and go with AeroMomentum. I encourage you to check out this locked thread on Viking to get a bit more background. My experience thus far with AeroMomentum and Mark has been great but of course you have many options out there. Either way, whatever you decide, I wish you luck on your Waiex journey.

i understand that there are a few Viking 90 Sonex or Waiex in the group. Would love to hear the performance numbers from those folks. Wondering how it performs with a cruise prop at 8000 ft and lower altitudes... Looking for an engine solution that matches ( reported) Aerovee Turbo performance...

Steve

If you do a little research on Aeromomentum, you'll find they have YEARS of experience on airboats. I think there is something to be said for all the modern Engineering technology AND the experience to back it up. But the others mentioned above have lots of experience too.

I encourage anyone who wants to buy a Viking to do research on N161AR. Links below.

In a nutshell. Jan Eggenfellner, the owner of Viking brokered a sale of a Viking powered Zenith 750, installed the wings after transport, removed handicap controls and replaced the original controls under a sales contract, and performed a condition inspection. The plane crashed 1 day after the inspection.

The plane crashed as a result of a elevator jam with the cause as a insufficient condition inspection by the A&P (Jan Eggenfellner) .

In my opinion this is a pattern of behavoir by this person and has risen to gross negligence.

Buyer beware.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/267715

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/ ... 103866/pdf

Just like with sonex, having a great user forum, I would want such a major component as an engine, to have a vibrant user forum. See what is available and read.