Lockwood Brings Rotax Power to the RV-9 | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-06.23.25

Airborne-NextGen-06.24.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.25.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.26.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.27.25

Thu, Jun 12, 2025

Lockwood Brings Rotax Power to the RV-9

Company Puts Out a Firewall Forward Kit to Replace the Standard Lycoming

Lockwood Aviation has officially decided that Lycoming doesn't get to have all the fun anymore, launching a complete firewall-forward package to drop a Rotax 916iS into a Van’s RV-9A. The package is turnkey and includes everything you need to make the swap without resorting to custom fabrication or guesswork.

The kit includes the 160-hp (for five glorious minutes) Rotax 916iS with a 2,000-hour warranty, a custom engine mount to fit the stock RV-9 firewall, and a hydraulic MT 3-blade constant-speed prop. It also comes with a hydraulic governor, intercooler, oil cooler, all the necessary hoses, baffling, and a custom cowling (which, frankly, looks more engineered than some entire airframes). The install is tidy and leaves plenty of room up front for more baggage.

Performance numbers are solid. At 19,000 feet density altitude, expect 190 knots true airspeed at 8.5 gallons per hour. Even at lower altitudes, it holds up well—170 KTAS at 8,500 feet on 8.7 gph, or 160 KTAS at 3,000 feet. Economy cruise settings deliver 150 knots at 4.5 gph at 19,000 feet. Cruise climb at 120 KIAS produces more than 800 fpm while still staying in the 8.5–8.8 gph range.

The advantages over a typical Lycoming install are painfully obvious. The Rotax power plant is lighter, burns less fuel, and delivers better high-altitude performance thanks to the turbo. Automatic mixture control and lean-of-peak operation make engine management a non-issue. The more favorable CG allows full use of the baggage compartment without creative loading.

Van’s Aircraft isn’t offering this package itself, but seems fine to sell customers an RV-9A kit without the firewall-forward portion. Lockwood’s work is no longer just a dream; it’s a thoroughly engineered, extensively flight-tested, and high-quality project that makes fuel-efficient, high-altitude cruising with the RV-9A a reality.

FMI: www.rv916.com

Advertisement

More News

NTSB Final Report: Rutan Long-EZ

He Attempted To Restart The Engine Three Times. On The Third Restart Attempt, He Noticed That Flames Were Coming Out From The Right Wing Near The Fuel Cap Analysis: The pilot repor>[...]

ANN FAQ: Turn On Post Notifications

Make Sure You NEVER Miss A New Story From Aero-News Network Do you ever feel like you never see posts from a certain person or page on Facebook or Instagram? Here’s how you c>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: ICAS Perspectives - Advice for New Air Show Performers

From 2009 (YouTube Edition): Leading Air Show Performers Give Their Best Advice for Newcomers On December 6th through December 9th, the Paris Las Vegas Hotel hosted over 1,500 air >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.28.25)

Aero Linx: NASA ASRS ASRS captures confidential reports, analyzes the resulting aviation safety data, and disseminates vital information to the aviation community. The ASRS is an i>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (06.28.25)

“For our inaugural Pylon Racing Seminar in Roswell, we were thrilled to certify 60 pilots across our six closed-course pylon race classes. Not only did this year’s PRS >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC