First start of Rotec R2800 radial engine

Rotec R2800 vintage style modern radial engine on a vintage style modern airplane. Airplane is an Aerolab LoCamp which has just been reassembled after long term storage. Located at Kretschman's Sugar Ridge Airport in Verona, WI.

[@ditzydoo4378]

Good Sir I pray for you. The "Rotec" though the engine design has potential to be a good engine, sadly the total lack of quality control has seen more than not fail. I would suggest a ground runout of at least 4-hours at various speeds followed by an inspection tear-down. The company seems to think that Loctite, incorrect fasteners and "Lots" of RTV can hold the engine together. . Frighteningly a great number of the failures have lead to forced landings and wrecks. The Rotec company banks on name recognition/confusion with "Rotax". And good luck getting any helpful communication with them little lone support. They will simply say, "boxed it up and ship it to them (at your expense both ways) and they'll has a go at it... Good luck and god speed to you all.

[@bearbon2]

Funny Mr. Checklist Procedure didn't see the unbuttoned panel before engine start.

[@rickunruh8132]

Nor did he realize that they just finished spinning the engine over to get oil pressure so there couldn't be an hydraulic lock.

[@charlesharper7292]

Very nice, looks like a Flybaby with an extra seat, and no strut wires.

[@g6rcteam81]

Take that thing outta that plane before you end up in A corn field like all the others. That Rotec owner almost killed A good friend of mine.

[@propellerhead9197]

Hey. this video is a couple years old now. We have all heard about the spotty reliability of the Rotec engine. I am curious how well this engine has performed. How many hours do you have and are there any issues with it. Please take the time to comment Thanks, We all would appreciate it. okobojo

[@ToyManFlyer1100]

My guess the plane been crashed and destroyed by that crappy assed engine....A guy built like 2 WW1 warbirds...That motor destroyed 'em both..Lucky he got deep pockets to rebuild them...Finally settled on a Lycoming and sold the shitty motors as is...

[@mikecorleone6797]

The rule to a reliable rotec is buy a new one, they’ll ship you a used rebuilt one instead and tell you it’s new and when you get it you’ll have to put another $10k into it to actually make it reliable..

[@mastertek383]

He better be proficient at deadstick landings

[@g6rcteam81]

They are airplane killers for sure . I wish they would get outlawed in the u.s.

[@Justwantahover]

@@g6rcteam81 I'm from Australia and it shouldn't even be allowed from the start. I'm going to approach some members about iRotec and use KZbin comments as CLEAR evidence that the engines should be banned here. My advice to people who bought one, is to just use the cylinders, heads and crank case and shaft and completely rebuild the rest.

[@spdwebdotnet]

Mmm Rotec... be careful with that thing.

[@dennishribar3292]

Great job Tom and crew. You will love how it flies. dennisLNR

[@skierbek72]

That's a beautiful aircraft,...really a jaw dropping beautiful machine.

[@steveb7310]

A beautiful airplane and a beautiful build. May you have many happy flights in it.

[@redrigbythesunconure1259]

Most likely not. The rotac engines have massive major engine failures. Even when you buy a "new" one they send you a rebuilt used one

[@steveb7310]

@@redrigbythesunconure1259 yeah, I know about all the problems with Rotec engines. It's a shame Rotec is run by scoundrels.

[@mikehuggler4322]

Young Chap reminds me of Charles Lindbergh. She is a beauty.

[@dalestephan6777]

Beautiful plane.. death trap engine..

[@machia0705]

That ROTEC engine has a bad track record . Be cautious Sir .

[@monelfunkawitz3966]

Need to get rid of that Rotec and put a Lycoming in, unless you like digging graves.

[@twickersruss]

I would like to see how many are out there and how many failures. Its easy to get a skewed opinion from social media and I for one would like to see ROTEC do whatever is necessary to regain any loss of reputation and make good any ills of the past.

[@k.w.churchill4397]

@@twickersruss Lot of videos showing this motor in a bad light. I have not seen one video saying how wonderful it is.

[@sblack48]

The other issue is the company owner. He would rather throw mud than take responsibility for people who have wrecked airplanes with his shitty engine.

[@josesbox9555]

Rv4 Guy I’ve heard.

[@kirkstinson7316]

@@twickersruss Well when the owner of rotec responds in writing that if you complain about your very expensive engine to him to much he'll just drop you. As in you'll get no support from him if you have a failure (or multiple failures as some have) and question the quality of parts he'll basically tell you tuff shit

[@lauriejones3198]

That beautiful airframe deserves a much better engine.

[@buttcrack7784]

Engines for experimental aircraft don’t need approval.

[@Mullay2]

I hope since this video was made you have replaced that Rotec piece of junk with something that won't kill you!

[@Bartonovich52]

Nope. There’s tons of videos out there showing these things failing. Including one poor pilot who wrecked two airplanes and had several failures and also found problems with “overhauled” engines they sent back until he swapped out for Lycoming. I’m sorry but those numbers just don’t happen for traditional opposed engines especially straight from the factory. Piece of crap.

[@mellokeith]

Bartonovich52 yes you are! Why don’t you go spend years creating a beautiful work of art so we can tell you what a POS it is... or more accurately, what a POS you are.

[@kirkstinson7316]

@@mellokeith It could be due to the number of low hour failures the engines have, or it could be that your just some trolling asshole

[@skizzysmith]

well done for rescuing this plane. Not sure about the reliability of Rotec. Look at accident reports, plus get an engineer to look at the drawings which will reveal some basic design errors. Does this engine have to be approved in any way in Australia?

[@craigdowden4788]

Can we get an update. I would love to know how its going

[@Tshasta4449]

This video is 3 years old, I was hoping there was some first flight videos, I haven’t been able to find any on KZbin

[@BIBIWCICC]

Why do these engines keep failing?

[@Bartonovich52]

Shitty design. A radial engine was the absolute pinnacle of early aircraft engineering. It was not something two blokes in a shop with some CNC equipment and a Chinese blueprint of a larger engine could hope to replicate. They also don’t have the resources to fix their problems so they don’t and send problematic engines back “as-is” after a BS tear down or not even.

[@richardturk7162]

Check your push rods after your first engine start up to make sure they stay where they are supposed to because I hear valve rattle or the rockers hitting the covers, oh be ready to keep your wallet out because you will be paying out the ass for shipping back and forth to Australia when parts break and they will.

[@mellokeith]

Beautiful plane!

[@MBCGRS]

Have you had your first engine failure yet...? Or still waiting...

[@paulmillard1130]

A very nice Gentlemen's aeroplane.

[@ronjohnson9507]

At least when the engine fails he can use it for a boat anchor

[@jameschristiansson3137]

Nice video, how about an update?

[@skierbek72]

Maybe he is dead? kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHrNmWelbradqrs

[@okobojo]

James Christensen - as far as I know it's been grounded ever since I shot this video.

[@peterstathus8079]

Beautiful aircraft!

[@dougmackenzie5976]

Starting an engine with an access panel flapping in the breeze. -Brilliant. Pretty clear nobody concerned spent time on a military flightline. sheesh.

[@buttcrack7784]

As most of us haven’t.

[@jerrysmith7166]

Hopefully you went through that engine first.. they are great as long as you totally rebuild it

[@leelafarlett3535]

If getting the motor to start was majic, whats it gonna take to get it off the ground, a miracle?

[@SaltyDawg-wu5kr]

RUN PEOPLE. ROTEC JUNK ENGINE STARTING? ☠

[@stewart51able]

Beautiful plane...!

[@gregwarner3753]

If i had the money to fly and wanted to use a radial engine i would find a radial engined antique and buy it. There is a beautiful radial engined twin mouldering outside the hangers at the Laconia, NH airport. I do not know the make of this plane or who owns it.

[@mellokeith]

I want to know how many of the critics of the Rotec commenting here actually have any hands on experience with the engine? How many are experimental aircraft builders? How many are A&Ps or AIs? How many are even pilots? C’mon guys; speak up! You’re willing to pull the rug out from under a person who probably just spent years of his life building a dream; let us all see who forms this self-appointed expert panel.

[@johnc6919]

mellokeith No one is criticising the builders, the plane is beautiful, no question. The engine on the other hand is definitely style over substance. If they plan to hang it up somewhere just for show then fine, it looks great. However, if they plan to fly it then they owe it to any potential pilot to research and make known the abysmal reliability history of that piece of junk engine.

[@sblack48]

Do you have to be an A&P to read an accident report or an account from a builder who’s airplane got wrecked who received nothing but abuse from the engine mfg? And I am a pilot, builder and an aero engineer, not that that is relevant.

[@mellokeith]

​@@johnc6919 What I'm complaining about is you people insulting this builder on a choice that he paid nearly $30K for. How would you like it if you married a woman (or man) and strangers walked up and asked why did you marry that fugly piece of sh*t? I have videos of my Rotec first run and people say that negative sh*t on my site and it pisses me off! I'm betting this guy, who put so much work into this beautiful plane, doesn't appreciate it either.

[@mellokeith]

​@@DylanClements98 Because I own one! DO YOU? Don't insult the people who have spent hard earned money building planes by telling them bad things. Just compliment them and stop there!

[@mellokeith]

​@@sblack48 And just how many official accident reports have you read on the Rotec R2800??? And the builder that posted videos about his two accidents... Thierry... I know him from the builder site and Facebook. He originally admitted the first accident was his own fault, but later retracted that because it's better to blame someone else (especially if you hold a grudge against that someone)than to look stupid on social media. The engine failed because of water in the fuel... he didn't preflight after it had rained because he had flown before it rained. The second accident, I don't know enough to comment. I know of a third accident, again pilot error. That pilot freely admits it was his fault and he's still flying a Rotec on his plane. But that would be 3 accidents (that I know of) from a manufacturer who's been making these engines for over 10 years; 2 of those 3 accidents were pilot error. ROTAX engines used to have an appalling failure rate, but now they seem to be the hot ticket on light sport aircraft. The difference? Social media and people gullible enough to believe somebody they don't even know.

[@grampageorge3407]

It sounded good.

[@rohanbaty3155]

Beautiful looking engine altho not a big fan of Rotax engines. Their 2 strokes were unreliable wen i was flying in the 90 s. I had 3 in flight engine failures. M b this 1 is more reliable?

[@Rockdoon]

Rohan BATY this is rotec not rotax... two separate manufacturers

[@rohanbaty3155]

@@Rockdoon Douw! Thx

[@crissd8283]

Too bad rotec has an incredibly low reliability score.

[@Francois_Dupont]

3:28 italian work right there

[@triplanelover]

if it ain't Lycoming, continental or pratt&whitney I ain't flying it

[@guybyars8181]

And the Packard-Merlin?

[@Bryan-ws3yt]

@@guybyars8181 I think Rotec is a subdivision of Crapp & Whitless.

[@petebike]

triplanelover ROTAX

[@burtvincent1278]

And I ain't so sure ed about Continental.

[@MrRickb04]

That is a gorgeous plane and perfect engine. Congratulations. Sure hope it's a sweet flyer.

[@EliCohenMisterMedia]

What A Beauty! Where is the first flight video?

[@michaeldautry]

Well done!

[@flexairz]

I would recommend a Verner motor in stead of this thing...

[@justadreamin1004]

Do they make those in 150HP?

[@jeffbridges666]

Looks and sounds amazing 👍

[@brandonb417]

What is it about the sound a radial engine makes?

[@hermanprez]

Problem is, many Rotec engines go silent during flight.

[@100clagman]

Sweet

[@bambangnugroho7192]

I wonder , how long the engine will last? I prefered Vedeneyev.

[@billquillin1952]

Nice sound!!!

[@HenauderTitzauf]

As far as the fuel problem goes, as always, get used to a substance and it will bite you, yep there too!

[@danielledykgraaf6483]

Please purchase a Lycoming for your plane...it is cheaper than a funeral.

[@sp769]

You should be able to get 2 funerals for the price of a Rotec Radial. Shop around and don't be afraid to haggle. Funeral Homes can be very greedy and sting people when they are at their most vulnerable. Good to sort all this out before your first flight. Check insurance too.

[@gerrycarmichael1391]

Take the Rotec and make a boat anchor out of it. You'll live longer.

[@bernardc2553]

Id put a Verner 9s in this thats Alot more reliable beautiful airplane sure hate to see it OR anyone get hurt with THAT POWERPLANT!

[@krisn8820]

Sweet looking, but I wouldn't trust that engine. It's kinda like a Harley Davidson, I wouldn't fly in it!!

[@geebopbaluba1591]

I bet the engines are made in China

[@davecalico3273]

WoW! 😲 fascinating

[@wolfganggugelweith8760]

Be careful with that Rotec engine!

[@neriksen]

Rotec engines make good wall ornaments. Nothing else. Very, very corrupt owner. True salesman

[@johnc6919]

Nothing wrong with salesmen. Except the unscrupulous, conceited, money grabbing type who couldn’t care less for their customers well being.

[@neriksen]

@@johnc6919 you nailed it in one

[@donwright3427]

Rubber band can power little model

[@neriksen]

Send it back for a full refund including any out of pocket expenses. If you don’t you risk your life and the loss of that beautiful aircraft. The owner is currently under investigation for fraud. Again.

[@MrLeslloyd]

Is that a fact ? hope so.Any links?

[@johnbowen2963]

wow very nice plane, and very nice engine

[@Bartonovich52]

No. The engine is terrible. Just look on KZbin for Rotec Radials and watch the carnage.

[@garyraines7511]

R2800. Right. Try R170....a lot of metal to produce 90 HP. ( or less)

[@bunky060171]

gary raines 2800cc, 2.8 litre

[@JimmyCasket02]

gary raines he’s not talking about a Pratt And Whitney

[@Stubby0266]

I have heard bad reports about this engine.

[@vendelinprda3447]

koukám, že guyové nalejvaj benzín z plastových nádob přímo v hangáru, aby nebylo velký bum

[@SKEptic-mg2dd]

That engine looks about two inches too high. Wonder how the cowling fits?

[@haraldschurr1035]

but sounds great

[@dmmdmm5435]

The entertaining part is When Tubby mctubster Recoiled in shuddering fear when the hatch cover closes.

[@pauljanssen7594]

I understand rotech the famous name now producing garbage acquaintance I know has a motorcycle with rotech engine it's basically a piece of garbage repair after repair after repair can you just can't bolt another engine into.

[@michaeljosop9871]

Not realiable engin🤣

[@brentdykgraaf184]

If you use it.....and you should NOT.. pay real close attention to rocker covers for workmanship flaws and leaking or broken rocker castings.

[@allenmoses110]

That wooden propeller makes me quite nervous. Once it breaks up into several thousand toothpicks it won't do much fly'n.

[@johnc6919]

‘Beautiful plane’, it certainly is. So why would a bunch of people, who like to sound as if they know what they are doing, not research the history and reliability of the engine? It’s a proven heap of potentially lethal junk. It may look appropriate (i.e. pretty) mounted on the plane but who cares if it kills the pilot?

[@renatocortelletti]

I remember that plane at Biella airport in Italy, but I think for the reason of the reability of the rotec engine it never get from italian aviation authority the authorization to fly and they took the plane to Usa. I don't remember the name of the owner/ builder at that time.

[@thomasmahoney9748]

There are many videos on how that engine is a POS and one man had three crashes from engine failures in less than 100 hours.

[@mellokeith]

Thomas Mahoney You mean Thierry? The pilot from Luxembourg? I only know of two failures...He originally admitted that the first failure/crash was his own fault, but when Rotec charged him for the diagnosis and shipping to and from Australia, he became upset and removed the public admission to make Rotec look bad. There was water in his fuel and he didn’t check it during preflight. Watch the cornfield crash video, the white puffs of smoke coming from the exhaust right before the engine failure... that’s water causing the smoke. The second accident that I know of was a manufacturing defect of a part outsourced to a Chinese manufacturer.

[@thomasmahoney9748]

@@mellokeith He disabled two of the engines and they both had multiple broken push-rods and defective everything. He had THREE crash landings due to engine failure. There is a guy here in the states who makes his own engines they are rock solid from what I have seen and cost less.

[@Rangband1]

Those are notoriously unreliable engines, many of them never able to make the 200hr mark before failing often in the 50hr range. Sheared rods, gearboxes flying apart etc. Not to mention the company itself when sent a crashed engine didn't inspect it and sent it back (with the sheared pushrod still in place)

[@anonharingenamn]

That's crazy, they cost like $27000!!

[@barrykropelin3845]

Have a Rotec R2800 on my aircraft and have had absolutely no problems! Lots of fun filled hours flying. Company has been great to work with. Own one for a while and then make comments.

[@akcfi]

MoFreckles, if you were any more full of shit you would be an outhouse.

[@akcfi]

The entire kit runs about $50K depending on extras, so, NO the engine does not cost like $27000!!! Dude.

[@skierbek72]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHrNmWelbradqrs

[@ralphhallett1684]

Mm

[@rustie61]

By now, you should have seen this Rotec owner's grief: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp2zpYCMns98sNU Both the Rotec engine and manufacturer in Australia, are junk. Basically, Rotec sells assembled scrap. if you want to live, buy a VERNER Radial engine, NOT Rotec. Be forewarned....

[@davidfarmer2049]

........all the silly reflections etc distracting. packed it in after 2 ins happy to neg this.

[@johnconroy4467]

David Farmer What?

[@scenicdepictionsofchicagolife]

Lol what an angry fucker! 😂🤙🏻

[@grimwat]

Really? Some pretty short attention spans out there eh?

[@ponyboy5.0coyotewild63]

A very poor death engine. !!!!!

[@brentdykgraaf184]

Do not fly that beutifull airplane with that p.o.s. engine. I will fly in anything....except an airplane powered by a Rotec. Replace it with a Jacobs.

[@Rcguy2591]

Thoes motors are absolute trash

[@moises8795]

That engine is horrible

[@gmcjetpilot]

I heard of some reliability problems wiht the Rotec R2800... Can you give an update and tell us how many hours you have on it...

[@65raven]

Culver Props 👍👍

[@Dynetric]

Hey guys - a warning - I see you pouring gas from plastic containers into the tanks. Some friends of mine were doing this exact same thing in Peachtree City, GA, inside the hanger, just like you. They were calibrating the fuel gages on a brand new RV-8, poly gas cans, and static created a spark. The whole airplane was destroyed. Luckily the hangar survived and no-one was hurt. Plastic jugs/gas cans and pouring fuel inside a hangar is an accident waiting to happen...Learn from others' mistakes...don't do this...

[@gmcjetpilot]

Thanks for the tip... reason they ground planes and fuel nozzle is metal...

[@Bartonovich52]

Done it for years. Turns out you can ground plastic just the same as metal. Put the spout on the opening. Plus... avgas isn’t as volatile as Mogas which is decanted from plastic jugs all the time.

[@endwood]

Brave putting one of these POJ in front of that lovely plane! Risky!

[@chrisr4815]

These engines are pure garbage.

[@danielledykgraaf6483]

By the time the green light came on the pushrod tubes were already bent.....if they were not already when assembled from the used spare parts at the engine plant.

[@Bartonovich52]

Isn’t that how they adjust the valve lash?? /sarcasm

[@michaelslee4336]

I see lots of questions asked to the the originator of this video clip but no answers. Probably because he died in that planes crash. We all know why.

[@thatdutchguy2882]

That's a beautiful aircraft,...really a jaw dropping beautiful machine.

[@skierbek72]

That's a beautiful aircraft,...really a jaw dropping beautiful machine.

[@JS-pj5sb]

Keep a close eye on those push rods,,, I haven't had any experience with Rotec's but have seen enough video's on here with Rotec failures that I have opted for a Continental for my Kitfox build

[@BlueBaron3339]

More than three years on, since this video. Did the aircraft ever fly?

[@LCMNUNES1962]

VERY GOOD , BRASIL OK.

[@hermanprez]

Rotec, LOL

[@NihongoGuy]

HOW could ANYONE trust the beautiful plane to that fake engine?

[@henery09]

Beautiful plane looks nice clean and great job built .is it hard to fly thanks

[@barneybetelgeuse6273]

That sounds awesome

[@coffeefish]

Great airplane. What are the colors?

[@lostinthedesert6149]

Wicked cool hanger :o)

[@patjohn775]

What’s the cost difference between a real airplane engine and these sketch engines? Why do people put them in

[@jerrysmith7166]

Lol he may have gotten one before they went to shit... said it’s been sitting around for 10yrs or so

[@keen1994]

Wow the guy in the cockpit looks a lot like a young Charles Lindbergh.

[@kirkstinson7316]

That plane looks a lot like a space walker kit. Any similarities?

[@alexsbikesandmotors]

why don't aircraft have radial engines anymore? Less efficient and reliable?

[@KB4QAA]

ABM: Too complex, and lower reliabilitly.