Popular Flying

March/April 2002

 

"Vans and Wilksch working on WAM-120 RV9 Installation"

"Wilksch Airmotive is working on a conversion that will allow straight­forward installation of their WAM-120 engine in the popular new RV-9 aircraft. With its advanced new wing section the RV-9 achieves an excellent balance of short field performance and efficient cruise. The availability of a turbine fuelled variant is expected to add to this appeal in European countries where Jet-A1 fuel is 3-4 times cheaper than Avgas.

Mark Wilksch, Managing Director of Wilksch Airmotive said "Vans Aircraft are assisting with technical data and we are very excited about working with them on the RV-9 conversion. The airframe and engine are ideally suited. Both WAM and Vans use CAD/CAM techniques and by working with accurate digital data we expect to offer a high quality installation kit."

The UK manufactured firewall-forward kit will provide a new mount frame, cowling, silencer, intake and filet and cooling systems parts. The WAM-120 powered RV-9 will be offered from the outset with a variable pitch propeller and light weight hydraulic CSU. Engine instal­lation costs are expected to be no more than for the 0-320 engine.

Ken Scott of Vans Aircraft commented "Vans are watching with great interest the steady progress being made by Wilksch Airmotive. Reduced operating costs for our European customers will be a real welcome development"."