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G'day all
Let me say I don't work for Cobra and
don't mean to indorse their products. but in saying that and sounding
hypocritical I believe that they have one of the better conversions on the
market.
Cobra manufacture their own composite
aircraft and have been building Subaru conversions for many years. Tom at Cobra
has been working for about three years on the rotary. Two planes are flying with
the rotary without problem, apart from the rev limiter kicking in but a bit more
pitch on the prop fixed that. Their engines are based on the RX8 engine,
with a modified manifold using a 75mm throttle body. I had seen the converted
engine at the dyno months before I met Tom at Cobra, and was informed at the
time by the tuner that it was producing an easy 200hp. And that was the
prototype.
I do believe Cobra are
looking at producing complete fire wall forward packages. For what aircraft I'm
not sure. At the moment he is supplying fwf kits for his own aircraft.
I was down there yesterday picking up my
cowls which they took a mold of, He is going to manufacture new ones for
me with any modifications that may be needed, scoops and such. I guess I'm
the guinea pig for the RV7 kit, but that's ok as I know it will be a neat
reliable package. Because the speed reduction lowers the engine about
5" there should be plenty of room above the engine for a neater manifold
and such.
I watched a video of his plane taking
off and I swear he was airborne in 8 seconds. The performance I have been
informed by others is fantastic. The pics that I have attached are of
the first installation that he did and I saw one about to be sent yesterday
and I can tell you there have been some small changes to the injector rails,
more of a standard Mazda installation and looks much neater.
As for the price you would have
to check with him. I will try and get more details for those that my be
interested. The engine Management computer is a Wolf 3D manufactured here
in Australia and has been around for some time. Tom has worked with them to
customise the computer for aircraft use. I already brought my Wolf before I new
this and will have to take it back to be modified. Mine cost $1300 aussie
dollars ($988 USD) that includes sensors and engine monitor that can be used for
tunning and also as an engine immobiliser. This is Cobra's web site
www.tomair.com.au I
think there is a video of the engine being run up.
I hope there arn't to many of us
waiting for mounts. Ron, I was told by Fred a long time ago that mine
would be made after he finished the RV7 mounts. I will check back through his
emails to me and see what date that was. Sounds suss to me.
Cheers
Michael
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