Living With An Avid Flyer: June 2013

Wednesday 19 June 2013

Excellent burgers at Piper Pub...

Took some time off a few Fridays ago to take my wife to lunch at a nearby airfield... Excellent burgers and friendly service at Piper Pub, Albertville airport LFKA, reservation recommended (04.79.31.42.58).

THE BACKGROUND...

Flying home after a visit to Provence my Rotax 532 finally gave up. I landed safely in a field but the engine didn’t survive. Not possible to repair I had the choice of either getting a second hand 582 or a new 582. Or did I? Was there really no other another alternative?

After long nights on the Web there was one alternative that stood out from the others; Simonini Victor 2
Weight, size, engine mount as 532/582, 92 HP at 6200 RPM, lower fuel consumption. All inclusive price close to 582.

Too good to be true? Well that is what we will find out.

Second hand information on the engine is mainly negative on the Web while the rare first hand feedbacks are positive.
It appears that people like what they have and dislike what they don’t have – at least when it comes to airplane engines. And those who didn’t like preferred Rotax…

Simonini make 3 versions of the same engine, Victor 2 with 92 HP, Victor 2 plus 102 HP and Victor 2 super 110 HP. Would you manufacture 2 high power versions based on a crappy base engine? I would not, so why would Simonini? Apparently Simonini trust their engine, first hand feedback is positive and - 100% irrational - it is a very good looking little engine...

I decided to put a Simonini Victor 2 in my Avid Flyer model C HH and this blog will tell the story about it.

Living With An Avid Flyer

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Wednesday 19 June 2013

Excellent burgers at Piper Pub...

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