Un d e r t h e C o w l
Robert Baslee of Airdrome Aeroplanes displayed this Rotec-powered Spirit of St. Louis replica at AirVenture 2013. www.AirdromeAeroplanes.com
The Power of Oshkosh 2013
New and updated powerplants
By Tim Kern
Aircraft design starts with the available powerplant.
That axiom has held for more than a century. Some designers/builders have become so frustrated with the engine
options available that they have designed their own engines. There is little need to do that today.
At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2013, options abounded. Here
is a sampling of new, new-ish, and alternative power
30
Vol.2 N o.9 / September 2013
sources, dwelling on the less known and the newer.
Here's what is available, or will soon be, to power your
next aircraft.
We'll cover the engines starting with the highest cylinder
count and then displacement order. Note that many of
these engines are in various stages of development, so the
caution of Caveat Emptor always applies.