ULMEurope's Events




23.03.98

BLOIS 1997 - Motors

New motors are coming on the market, offering interesting alternates for our ultralights.

Chapelet - BMW 1100
It's already been some time that Jacques Chapelet offers a BMW 1100 cc 4 strokes motorization for ultralights. Tested a long time on the Big Bang, and now on the Lazer, this motorizatrion is interesting in several ways.

Jacques is the kind of man that makes no compromises in mechanics. He only uses proven and efficient solutions. The reliability of BMW is well known, hundreds of thousands being used daily worldwide.

The BMW-Chapelet is, mechanically speaking, strictly identical to the one found on the motorbike. This brin two main advantages: firstly, spare part are available worldwide, and, secondly, the use of a cheaper second-hand motor is possible.

Jacques then "only" designed, then produced a light housing and its centrifugal clutch. To this comes a RZ reductor from ULM Technologie. The elctrical part is simply modified in suppressing all unneeded accessories (blinkers, etc), and takes a specific BMW designed electronic that allow for automatic altitude compensation up to 4'000 meters.

Housing and reductor

Centrifugal clutch

Results are convincing: the people having tested it found that it offered a better climb rate than equivalent Rotax. For comfort, the motor is extremely silent, and uses only 8 liters per hour, hence economical.
Its only negative aspect would be its weight: fully equipped, with all water and oil and all acessories (radiators, exhaust, etc) it weights 82 kg, i.e. around 6 kg more than the Rotax in the same conditions.

We believe that this additional weight is fully compensated by the advantages in terms of easier maintenance and true power (80 CV at 6'000 t/m). In Blois, it was sold for FRF 48'820 including VAT. It should be noted that Jacques Chapelet directly gets his motors from BMW, what shows the seriousness of this version.

Contact:
Métallerie Chapelet, Parc Industriel de l'Erette, F-44810 Heric
Phone: +33 2 40 57 94 10 fax +33 2 40 57 94 11

ULM Technologie - Zanzottera
We had presented, during Aero 97, the Zanzottera motors palette. The 4 cylinder version is now under tests.

This 2-strokes, 4 cylinder boxer motor, 1'252 cc with electronic injection, should offer 100 to 120 CV of power. Its manufacturer finds it ideal for autogyro motorization, and a certified version is foreseen to be on the two seater Dragonfly in Italy.

Presently, the research and trials are concentrating on a dual electronical injection blackbox, where, in case of one circuit falling down, the other one should automatically take over, ensuring an uninterrupted injection.

Foreseen on the market during 1998, at a cost not yet defined. An important point is that this motor, inclusive reduction box, only weights 55 kg.

Contact:
ULM Technologie, Aérodrome de Valencienne, F-59121 Prouvy.
Phone et fax: +33 3 27 45 53 53.

Propuls'R - C2TX3
Propuls'R is a company that might have discovered the mean to definitely render 2-strokes engines reliable. The prototype exists and runs, and the commercial phase is starting.

In a usual motor, any mechanical problem translates into the immediate stop of the motor... and a forced emergency landing, more or less well done. This problem exists for both ultralights and light aviation, with additional risks for the later due to the higher inertia of these planes.

Mr. Desclaux's idea - duly patented - is simple, and just needed to be thought: his motor, should there be any squeeze or break in one cylinder, will simply "unclutch" that cylinder. This of course reduces the available power, but allows to continue th flight, offering a much larger security margin than the traditional motors. In fact, and as long as one of the cylinders works, there is some power left. Sort to say, you have a tricylinder motor, where the three motors are independant.

With the exception of the specific parts, all active parts of the motor (cylinders, pistons, rods, etc) are strictly stock, and very solid ones as they come from the trial and cross Montessa motorbikes.

This 2-strokes motor has the advantage of being very light, weighting around 40 kg all included with gearbox, exhaust and radiators for the 80 CV version. Two versions will be sold: a 780 cc for 60 and 80 CV power, and a 1'200 cc for 100 to 120 CV power. What brings an interesting weight/power ratio, with a said fuel consumption of around 10 l/h.

The maximum torque is gained at 4'300 t/m, the reductor ensuring a 1'800 - 2'500 t/m at the propeller. This 120° tricylinder is water cooled, has an overall diameter of 60 cm, and is 44 cm deep, including alternator and dual electronic ignition, with one or two spark-plugs per cylinder. Its price should be between FRF 35'000 and 55'000 including VAT. Foreseen to come on the market by the second semester of 1988.

Contact:
Propuls'R, Forum d'Entreprises, Av. Castelnaudary, F-31250 Revel.
Phone: +33 5 62 26 80 11 fax +33 5 62 26 80 05.