From 2017: Airplane Upgraded With 912iS Engine And More

Van's Aircraft has made several upgrades to its popular RV 12 model, starting forward of the firewall and continuing through much of the airplane.

The most obvious of the changes is the installation of the Rotax 912iS engine. The new engine produces more torque which improves the climb rate and cruise. But Rian Johnson, Chief Engineer for Van's Aircraft, told ANN editor Tom Patton that the company has been listening to its customers for the past eight years, and put together a list of upgrades to make a better airplane.

Among those, are improved stress limits and landing gear, which will be welcomed by flight schools. The fuel tank has been redesigned, and the baggage limit has been increased. It's also easier to get to the baggage area, Johnson said. The throttle has been moved down into a throttle quadrant between the seats, again a change suggested by customers and builders. In "eco" mode, he said that the airplane is showing fuel savings of between 25 to 30 percent with the iS engine.

Johnson said that the refinements will add some cost to the airplane. The engine itself is about $5,000 more. But the company worked diligently to keep the "delta" as low as possible.

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