V6 Will Still Certify, Though, In '06

It is staggering news... and not of the good kind. Austrian-based BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG has confirmed to ANN that it will not go forward with the commercialization of its V6 aircraft engines but will, however, continue to focus on its existing range of recreational aircraft engines, the 912 and 914 models.

The company intends, regardless, to complete the certification tests of the V6 aircraft engine by December 2006.

"We have come a long way with the V6 engine and we are proud of what we have accomplished," said Gerd Ohrnberger, vice-president and general manager, BRP-Rotax.

"However, when BRP was sold three years ago, management decided to concentrate the company's core activities on powersports products. Today's announcement will ensure that BRP-Rotax's human and financial resources continue to contribute to our company's mainstream activities and to its growth," he concluded.

An affiliate of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG develops and produces innovative 2- and 4-stroke high performance Rotax® engines for Ski-Doo® and Lynx™ snowmobiles, Sea-Doo® watercraft and sport boats, Can-Am™ ATVs/quads, and karts, as well as ultra light and light aircraft engines. Located in Upper Austria, BRP-Rotax is the largest company in the district Wels-Land. Over the past 50 years, the company has developed more than 350 engine models.

ANN has been privy to some of the decisions leading up to this unfortunate announcement and will have more detail on this story, shortly...

FMI: www.brp.com, www.rotax.com