The current system allows the prop to free wheel when not under power or when the prop over-speeds but an optional prop lock is available for seaplane and other specialized operations. Great customer service. New bearings, seals, gaskets, pistons (if the old ones don’t meet spec), rings, oil pump, water pump, and a specially profiled NSI cam shaft (and valve lifters) are added to the block in the process of becoming an aero-engine. I am taking a subaru EA81 and making it look like a german watercooled experiment from the fifties. He, literally, has nearly one hundred engines’ worth of prepared parts ready to assemble… so he’s ready to ship right here and now. Others. The induction system is dominated by the highly-regarded Ellicin Throttle Body injection system… a device I’ve flown on a number of other aircraft with great satisfaction. The more recent engines are adding much complexity that is simply not desired in an aircraft engine. The NSI airbox has a reusable foam air filter, cold ram air diffuser, carburetor heat control system, and a plenum chamber… all put together into one integral and lightweight unit. But suffice it to say that the equivalent Rotax 912 installation-with some 20 percent less hp-is several thousand dollars more expensive than anything NSI offers. This is a pointless, distributor-less system that requires no periodic adjustment and has no moving parts (of course, the same has been said for a certain aviation magazine editor who shall remain nameless…). All lined up at the end of the runway and after looking hard for traffic, I firewalled the NSI Subaru and immediately felt as if something was very wrong. There are hundreds of thousands of dollars of the best machining gear available-precision gear associated with high-end aviation fabrication… and gear so high-tech that it has been used to support a number of NASA endeavors under separate contract with NSI. The Rocky Mountain Westy Subaru Charger Kit is a proven, straightforward solution for converting your Vanagon to a powerful and reliable Subaru power. The EA-81 swings a WarpDrive 3 blade 70 inch propellor. Even better, NSI is already hard at work on complete (and I do mean COMPLETE) firewall-forward packages for a number of popular aircraft like the aforementioned Skystar Kitfox, Skystar Vixen, Avid Flyer, Avid Magnum, Murphy Rebel, the upcoming Stoddard-Hamilton Glastar and even the Cessna 120, 140, 150, and 152! After a while I swapped the dual carb EA81 it had with an EJ22 bolted on a custom gearbox which used EJ D/R casing, EA82 5sp low range and an RX centre locking diff. So, the proof of the engine is in the flying and the NSI was no exception. Most TERRIER 200 Aircraft are powered by the Subaru EA 81 engine. I am just mocking things up now, ordering parts and making the neccessary custom parts. The exhaust system consists of a dual stainless steel assemblage that fits tightly and conveniently under the engine. Fast shipping. We will offer pre-machined flywheels and electric starters for this PSRU off-the shelf, as an option, or you may provide your own. Your email address will not be published. Keeping it as simple as possible. It is obvious that this guy is prepared to do this right. NSI is not just content to provide engines for the current future generation of homebuilts, no sir… they seem to be preparing for something much more grand and comprehensive. Charging capacity is 38 amps, and both automotive as well as aviation fuels are usable. Propellers Worldwide delivery • Contact Vassili Tarakanov - AIR TRIKES ENTERPRISES, Owner - located St Lazare, QC Canada • Telephone: 438-832-7772 • 450-202-7772 • Posted November 21, 2020 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend … Mind you, many of you may not know that the little Subaru engine is really not a converted auto engine turned to aircraft use… but rather an aero-engine that was originally converted to automotive use! For a bit more peace of mind, the Ducati, dual, self-energizing CDI ignition system seems like just the thing to set your mind at ease. Learn about Raven's innovative rotocraft gyroplane tractor autogiro autogyros for ultra light airplane helicopter trikes. AeroConversions is a product line of high-quality powerplants, systems and parts for use in recreational aviation. Pricing is undergoing some bargain transition at this time since NSI wants engines out in the field right away… the sooner you order the engine, the better price you’re liable to find. One has only to set the timing once and a simple tune-up is nothing more than the replacement of the plugs, cap and rotor, and adjustment of the valve lash to spec. Engine Rebuild Kit … The EA-81 … NSI has some interesting plans for the future and they don’t end with the 100 horsepower EA81. Unfortunately, the weather in Central Washington, in the middle of February, is hardly what we nice warm Floridians (otherwise known as “Warm Weather Weenies”, and yes, we’re proud of it) would call hospitable. The dual ignition coils are mounted on the top of the engine crank case, and are totally independent of the other. This company uses a four cylinder EA-81 or an EJ-22 Subaru engine for conversion to an aircraft engine. Subaru Car Engine Conversions for Homebuilt Aircraft Subaru EA81. SUBARU EA EJ GEARBOX CONV. Then again, so would I. Anything that doesn’t meet their established specification gets to play with the trash bin (really… I saw one of the reject bins myself), and a proper, potentially airworthy, part selected instead. Ya, people fight about this all the time – people once that horses were superior to automobiles for transportation. YUCK! I paid 5300 bucks for it, 912's were only 80 horse then, no 100 912S, but even the 912's were, I think, 12 K or so! Clegg Engine has been in the engine rebuild and parts business for over 48 years. A properly prepared, normally aspirated Subaru EA81 engine may produce up to 100 HP at 5400 engine RPM. like where to get a motor mount or the reduction gear box to put the prop on. However; there are a couple of very good aftermarket EFI units available.  Some believe that strapping a carburetor on is the “smart” approach. If running normally aspirated and one doesn’t care about any of the advantages of EFI, a carb works. and simple construction for a dependable combo when matched properly with a powerplant… and it seems to really like the Subaru. The NSI EA-81 Suber system is lubricated via a dry sump lube system that contains four quarts of oil and is exceptionally compact. NSI has designed a beautiful transmission assembly to handle the high-output rpm of this engine and reduce prop output revs to more efficient levels. I have flown it without any trouble for 450 hours. Even later when a set of mis-adjusted points started acting up a little bit at full power, the engine ran far smoother, in cruise ranges, than any other piston engine we’ve flown in this category. www.buildagyrocopter.com/converting-the-subaru-ea81-engine-for-aircraft Another Johnson Creek Idaho Backcountry Camping Trip, information about these conversions is documented here, https://www.outfrontmotorsports.com/subaru-jdm-motors/. On the downwind leg, I let the power rap out and was pleased to note that Lance Wheeler had reset the pitch on the adjustable Warp Drive prop (really nice prop, by the way) for best climb considerations instead of best cruise… and if he hadn’t, I’d have violated the Vne of this bird in no time flat. The Subaru EA engine is a series of automobile internal combustion engines manufactured by Subaru, a division of Fuji Heavy Industries.All EA series engines are of a flat-4 design, and have always been water cooled.. Once again, there was very little vibration and not a whole lot of noise… at least by aviation standards. Engine rebuild kits for your SUBARU. Among the EA82 engine series there were a number of fuel systems. In no time at all, we were off the ground and rocketing upwards at 1500 feet per minute… but at a climb speed of 70 mph (hey, remember when Kitfoxes only CRUISED at 70?). We will provide instructions for your flywheel modification. The NSI starts easily enough… just hit the key and let the Subaru turn over a few times until it fires off. engines is in the works that will offer every thing from the EA81’s 100 hp to the Subaru EJ2.2’s (Turbo Legacy) 200 hp! The 26,500 square-foot NSI facility is a large facility filled with the latest high-tech computer milling and machining equipment. The EA-81 is a 1.8 L, with two Bing carburetors, single ignition, liquid cooled, belt driven reduction for the propeller, equipped with a 45 amp alternator and its maximum power is 100 hp. Climb is about 800 FPM. Yes, other engine combination are being studied… as Lance has asked me a number of questions about the Van’s RV series, various Lancairs… and he already has a great working relationship with Stoddard- Hamilton. Hi Jim, welcome aboard. The wunderkind behind this little gig is Lance Wheeler, a veteran of several heretofore-incomplete tries to build the ultimate sport aero-engine… and a run of efforts that finally seems to have paid off. Throughout the flight, temperatures seemed to be well within specification (if not a little on the cool side due to the ambient temperatures of the day) and the engine worked like a charm. Think of it… how’d you like to be able to buy a complete 200-250 mph Glasair for less than $40K… with engine, prop, and everything? Subaru EA-81 conversion by NSI We appreciate your consideration in this matter. Each cylinder has two valves, one for exhaust and one for intake. Light, powerful, highly reliable, and extremely well-designed in terms of aeronautical needs, the Subaru revolution may have as much of an effect on the mid-range of sport aviation as Rotax has had on the most afford able end. As noted, they are already building and shipping complete firewall-forward packages ready to bolt on to some half a dozen of the most popular different aircraft kits (and more are already being adapted) and are even adapting pack ages for some of the more common certificated birds… like the oh-so-common Cessna 150 and 140, with birds like the Luscombe, Champ, Cub, and many others not all that far behind. KIT • $2,095 • LIMITED TIME ONLY • SPG-4 gearbox conversion kit for aircraft, airboats, hovercraft etc. A firewall-mounted boost pump and gas filter offer additional safety measures. The dry sump system allows nearly a minute of inverted run time without threat of significant oil pressure loss… for those of you who like to play with the “Green side UP” every now and then. Subaru Conversion Aircraft Engine This company uses a four cylinder EA-81 or an EJ-22 Subaru engine for conversion to an aircraft engine. This is a simple and easy-to-use system-but if you run the battery down, you can kill the ignition system. Well, that’s what you might think but the idle of the NSI engine is so smooth that outside of the noise and the gauge readouts, there is little to suggest the engine is actually running… no kidding. The engine package is shipped fully assembled, dyno-tested (including a copy of the actual print-out of the dyno run that each engine receives) and if bought as a firewall-forward package, everything one needs to bolt on the front of your bird and go flying… in as little as 10-12 hours! For those in this camp; get over it and join the modern era – do some research and try to learn something. Stratus EA-81 Subaru; CAM 100/125 - Honda-based conversions; Continental Aircraft Engines (O-200, C-90, etc.) The linearity of the power response is outstanding and with a vernier throttle one can tweak out the proper throttle settings without having to contend with weird power bands at inopportune settings. The engine came in a few different configurations, obviously the more powerful one’s being the most popular including a twin carb 100 hp stock standard model. The EA series engines have aluminum heads with aluminum blocks. Performance is good with cruise at 100 MPH at a little over 4 GPH. However, for a single pilot flight like mine, I would not be surprised to find that an NSI equipped Kitfox was capable of 2000 feet per minute. Not just in terms of dollars but also complexity, reliability, weight, and maintenance. NSI has done a great deal to quiet the savage charms of the Subaru and the result is one very quiet engine. I never did get to do a full power, max-rate climb because I never could get a stable climb attitude before I started losing myself in the low-hanging scud that enveloped Arlington for several days. NSI has been pretty adaptable in terms of ignition systems. The reduction features a number of reassuring properties, the EA-81 reduction unit is capable of handling up to 240 hp and has a self-contained lubrication system that includes two magnetic particle inspection plugs. Privacy Policy. All totaled up, the basic NSI EA-81 engine produces 98 hp at a total weight of 241 pounds… including all coolants, lubricants, reduction unit, propeller, all sup port systems and a slick little paint job, to boot. Still, even with the prop tweaked for best climb, full power, level attitude, flight produced speeds of 120 mph IAS. Mnflyer. This system is retrofittable to previously built NSI EA-81 engines. EDITORS NOTE: With the popularity of the Subaru EA81 aircraft conversions, supplies dried up quick through the 90’s and early 2000’s and the engine became very hard to find. Variable valve timing is an example. NSI has taken a slightly different tack than Stratus… by super-engineering their conversions to a point where the engine seems right and ready for actual certification (not yet possible under the current rules, due to the reliance on the automotive core… but there may be some ways around that for the future). Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this siteâs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. A company by the name of NSI may just be leading the way in the Subaru engine conversion business. It is a small displacement, high revving engine so it requires a Propeller Speed Reduction Unit (PSRU, gearbox, reduction drive, etcâ¦). The engine cores are bought, used, from Japan (and driven only by little old ladies on the way to the Ginza…), where they are stripped, disassembled, chemically washed, and inspected to make sure they meet basic specifications. A very nice quality adaption with all accessories, ready to use. You can currently get a simple, inexpensive Subaru/Nippon Denso pointless, battery-powered distributor system similar to those used in the automotive powerplant. Several minutes of flight at fixed power settings offered nothing more than slightly lower operating temps as the engine cooled a bit more properly and the rpm was effectively glued to where I left it. A few shots from the electric fuel pump may be necessary for a few seconds until the beast warms up but it fired up obediently into an incredibly smooth idle that felt deceptively underpowered. Eliminating these types of things is no simple task and may (probably) significantly alter the highly reliable nature of the engine. In the early seventies, it was re-developed for auto use in the FFI series and the rest is history; and, of course, it continues to make history… aeronautically speaking. Your email address will not be published. The uneducated believe that the automotive fuel injection and ignition control will work in an aircraft. This is a nice thought but proven to be wrong. EM-5 4F equipped. Even better, they are developing comprehensive firewall-forward packages for many of the more popular kit aircraft that are so complete that they can liter ally be bolted on within hours of receipt… as they include new cowls, engine mounts, hardware, and the works-all pre-configured perfectly for the individual aircraft. The Ellicin TBI’s incredible throttle response (right now!!!) After a minute or two of warm-up, temps came well into line for the upcoming flight and I worked my way out to the runway in the midst of a fair amount of rain and 12 to 18 mph worth of ever-growing wind. Remember, as with Wikipedia, it only takes a few dollars from every person who visits to cover our running costs. Yes, he starts with a dependable Subaru EA-81 engine core… but only four major parts come from the automotive side of the game… the rest being fabricated on site or by a number of independent contractors. Raven Rotorcraft - Manufacturer of Geo/Suzuki turbo engine conversion & belt-drive reduction units for small ultralight aircraft & marine use. It is one neat looking gadget, let me tell you. Once again, the vibration level was deceptively low and one has to get used to the false sensation that there was inadequate power to fly on… simply because the engine was making no fuss at all (this thing is as smooth as some turbines… really). Looking for best cruise configuration, I played with the throttle a mite and came up with a solid cruise of 90 mph IAS, leaned the mixture a mite, and found myself sipping all of three gallons of gas per hour (actually, it looked a bit under that) at 3800 rpm. Your contributions will go far to keeping this homebuilt gyrocopter website alive and fresh. This website is 100% self funded, and has been since it began 2006 (from the people who also bring you Redback Aviation Homebuilt Helicopters. Although the Foxcon Terrier 100 was at one time produced, the company's sole current product is the Foxcon Terrier 200, powered by a Subaru EA81 automotive conversion engine or Rotax 912ULS aircraft engine, although a four-seat Foxcon Terrier 400 is under development. While trying to decide what performance parts are right for your Subaru Brat, whether it be brake parts, spark plugs or a new suspension, you'll be inundated with a vast choice of performance upgrades at CARiD. We were one of the first do-it-yourself kits on the market and, with over 500 conversions released into the wild, we've honed our parts and processes to offer a streamlined conversion experience. The gifts we sell are designed with relaxation and your serenity in mind. Maximum fuel burn is 7.7 gph at 98 hp-but most cruise operations use a far more sedate 3.0 to 3.5 gph. Extended power runs with fixed throttle settings found the situation to stabilize quickly and produce little or no change over an ex tended period of time. I use a gearbox (no strap) which is oil by the engine oil system. The 33-pound device has been deliberately designed to work with a linear cam device to reduce the slings and arrows of torsional vibration… a personal bugaboo of Lance Wheeler’s (this guy hates vibration like some ex-Presidents hate broccoli). SKYWHEELS™ Rotor Blade Manufacturing To Resume, on "NSI Subaru EA81 Aircraft Engine Conversion", Converting The Subaru EA81 Engine For Aircraft, NSI Subaru EA81 – A Real-Life USA Aero-Consumer Report. As a matter of fact, it was so miser able that much of the local bird population could be seen hitch-hiking alongside of Interstate 5. Conversion Kits. There is an accessory pad capable of handling vacuum and fuel pumps. My EA 81 conversion, bought complete from the now defunct Stratus was dirt simple and gave me zero problems for 1300 hrs, then I sold it and bought my long tail S-7 kit. Hmmm… I thought you would. Z00000M —>. Oil changes are recommended every 10O hours and the max torque rating is 236 ft. lbs. The EA81 has Subaru fuel injected heads and with the timing wheel on the pulley it also has the Subaru electronic ignition system. Flying with a Subaru EA-81 converted for aircraft. An EA81 Subaru makes similar peak power to an O-200; and you can get a timed out core (well cared for O-200s can go well beyond the 1800 TBO) or one with lost logs or tags for a reasonable price. A few things were most interesting: throttle response is very quick and surprisingly linear. Jam the throttle home and you are rewarded with nearly instant power. Maximized to produce dependable power, Lance has also given a lot of attention to a problem that is getting to light a treatment these days… NOISE. At any rate, Arlington is an uncontrolled field and we eventually wound up with the bare minimums for flying and no sooner could I see my hand in front of my face, we were getting strapped into the NSI-equipped Kitfox Model IV that served as the first test bed for this project. Like the story of the Stratus conversions listed elsewhere in this magazine, few recent developments hold as much promise for the future of light-to-moderate weight sport aircraft as do the recent introduction of a series of Subaru engine conversions for sport aircraft use. Panel The installation has 145 hours of flight time on it as of Dec. 2014 SparrowHawk gyro owned by Walt Harsch in Arizona. Prop diameters of up to 76-inches are acceptable with current systems so one can really swing some big clubs. The EA81 was the first turbocharged Subaru engine put into production (This is the car that I own, the Great Grandmother of the WRX). Yup… this guy is loaded for bear and he’s shooting live ammo. I am running an EA81 on my new Avid+; I don't have a whole lot of hours on it yet but so far I really like it. I have the first NSI Kitfox 4 with a Subaru conversion from 1993. EJ22 with EM-5 4F system ... RAM Racing Engines builds Subaru engines for aircraft conversions: As previously noted, the Subaru was originally designed as an aero-engine and many box stock parts (which you can buy yourself at the auto-parts store should you need them…) are used wherever possible and practical. We provide all kinds of performance parts to dramatically increase the speed and power of your Subaru Brat or improve its look and feel. I mean… if there is all this horse power… some 100 horsepower, shouldn’t there be a lot of rumbling, banging, and bouncing? RPM - RON'S PRECISION MACHINE, INC. 69 E. 580 N. Santaquin, Utah 84655 1-801-754-5338 or Toll free 1-866-700-5877 e-mail ron@rpmrons.com 24-7. AeroConversions products include the AeroVee Engine, AeroCarb, AerConversions Trim System and Throttle Quadrants, along with many other parts and accessories. This requires engineering, precision manufacturing, loads of hours to prove in the test cell, and then many hours/years of flight time to create a track record that customers believe and can trust. To date, those who have tried have failed. There are a few PSRU manufacturers around but not many and finding people with thousands of hours behind the units is very near rare/difficult. If you do find one, find out how much he has had to work on/modify the PSRU – I’ll bet it’s a lot. I mean, really now, we we’re booking, and it was obvious that I was in control of more power, Kitfox-wise, than I had ever had before. Founder Ron Carr’s Subaru conversions are built in-house using proprietary parts including lightweight forged pistons, stainless-steel valves, bronze guides, and a one-coil-per-plug electronic ignition that’s cockpit adjustable and doesn’t require a computer. Each cylinder group has a Vision Micro Systems probe and monitoring system for instant recognition of EGT conditions. Very nice. With the early units, it was possible. Time has proven that this is a bad plan and current EFI systems are becoming more and more complex making them less and less appropriate for aviation use. 08-29-2013, 10:17 AM #2. ITM Engine Components 09-11305 Cylinder Head Gasket Set for 1980-1987 Subaru 1.8L H4, EA81, Brat Anyone hear of anybody putting a Subaru EA81 engine on a model 1 or 2. can it be done? Dozens of ready engine cores line the walls of the assembly area and hundreds of parts are ready to be built up, right now, into an engine and shipped off to a waiting builder. www.buildagyrocopter.com/nsi-subaru-ea81-aircraft-engine-conversion Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to JD Finley and JdFinley.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. I lifted it, fitted Kumho 27″ MT’s. It is well understood that one can get these engines to produce a great deal of torque and/or work well for us at altitude with a turbocharger. Yes, indeed. However; most people do not understand how to properly size a turbocharger for aircraft use nor do they understand that an intercooler is mandatory or that electronic fuel injection and timing control is also required for reliability. Once you get past all that, you must have an in-flight adjustable propeller to properly use the power that is now available to you at altitude. Guess how much all of this cost you?