912 vs 912 s

[Disco]

Hi guys. This questions is for anyone who still fly light single seaters. I think there are some left.

[MilesW]

Horsepower is good ;DAny machine over 200kg with a pilot over 80kg is going to benefit from the extra ponies. 100hp for no fuss flying anywhere, anytime in this great land. 80hp will work if your all up weight is genuinely light, your down near sea level, it is cool and you have a bit of space to work with.I guess it really depends on your expectations and definition of performance. Truly light single seaters built for 4 strokes are also very rare. The weight racks up pretty quickly with all the goodies. I fantasize over a naturally aspirated, fuel injected, water cooled, 130hp donk of similar installed weight to the 912ULS for my rather obese single seater.Miles

[MadMuz]

912 = good912s = goodererAs Miles says, 80 hp will do, 100 will do better

[danny]

no question in my mind go 100hp and forget the 80danny camel

[Disco]

Thanks Guys.

[MadMuz]

Always best to get the more power option if it is available, unless there is a reliability issue with the more powerful one. For example, the 582 and the 618, if you were buying a new engine and the price wasn"t that much different, for the same weight of engine you get a few more horsies... it makes sense... but in this particular case, the extra 5-10 hp made a rather stressed 618 and it develloped a bit of a bad rep for being a bit temperamental compared to the 582, so maybe not a good example.same with the 912..... if both of the engines weigh, for example 80kg, one is 80 Hp and the other is 100 hp the choice seems pretty obvious..... it is only if the cost of the extra 20 Hp is not too excessive. Like I said before, if you stumble apon a cheap, good 912, it will do fine..... if the price difference is not real big, the 912s would be better.

[MilesW]

Thanks Guys.

[aussie_paul]

I have found over the years that people will always end up using the power they have available, especially as they become more proficient.Aussie Paul.

[MadMuz]

dead right Paul, it is like computer speed.... no matter how fast your computer is, it s never quite fast enough

[birdy]

Did my first 2200 hours ona 80hp.Natha 3000 odd on the 100hp.Cept for the obvious, shorter TO, slower min AS, faster climb and higher WOT fuel dissapearance rate, there isnt alot of difference.The 100 is a "hotter" engine, so you wouldnt expect it to last as long asa 80 if you flogged it, but the 80 will get flogged harder coz it dont have the reserve.Simply swapn from 80 to 100, and changn nuthn else, including flyn type, wont change the burn rate.The 100 is obviously better for close proximity stuff, coz you have the soot to get outa the dust, but haven the extra soot tends to get you into the dust more often.No idea wot the coin difference is, but if you dont need the 100, dont get it.The 80 on a single is plenty slippery enuff.

[gyroo]

The more horsepower the better.You can always throttle back in a higher powered machine.I remember my little 50hp machine carrying me at 105kg under 22

[MadMuz]

Hey Mark, it sure makes for a good pilot after being in that marginal machine then stepping into something with an abundance of power

[Disco]

Ok so thanks everyone. I"ll find a 100hp.Now..

[Tim]

There have been plenty of 912 powered machines carrying 2 people around quite nicely. Be wary on the S/H market though, faulty ignitions, oil pump drives, clutches, and other AD"s listed on the ASRA site. (Mostly expensive mods that may make a bargain not so cheap) Make sure it has good paperwork.A coolant coil around the carby base will generally only delay the onset of icing. It will work in a mild condition. I can"t speak for the electric heaters but it sounds as though they are better than the coolant ones and possibly take care of most conditions. IMHO the only one that is 100% effective is to shove hot air down the throat where the ice is.Edit - or fuel injection. I have seen a 912 successfully converted to FI.

[Disco]

Thanks Tim.Any other opinions on the ice scenario?