Just a couple of points. This info I got from Eric Tucker who teaches the factory maint. classes for the U.S. distributor.

For those of you who are concerned about the engine being water cooled. Part of the European cert. process requires the engine to demonstrate runing 1/2 hour at max cont. cruise power without water without engine failure. His comment was that if you kept power down around 50% you could run all day since the cylinders are air cooled, only the heads are water cooled.

Water cooling is what lets this engine being built so tight. With .0009 max. cylinder to piston clearance there is also no oil consumption and very little wear. I was told that ag operators use them in S. America and switch them out after 3000 hr.

All engines have their strong and weak points but I like the power/weight ratio and smoothness of the Rotax.

Bill.

A64, my only negative experience with the water cooled 582 was a very difficult to replace water pump impeller seal, so it's a maintenance gripe rather than a cooling performance gripe. That's my one and only reason, combined with having never seen an overheated 503 (air fan cooled.)

Student BCP wrote:

Neighbor Pete wrote:Terry,
I am moving to McCall ID in the next several months and as soon as I get my shop set up there I will be starting on a Highlander build. I am plannning to build it with a Rotax 912 ULS as many others have.

I'm not sure if you know about the Just Aircraft forum or not, but here is the link.

http://www.wingsforum.com/viewforum.php?f=218

Hey, let me know if you need any help building your plane. I don't really have any experience, but I can hold a wrench or whatever you need. Plus I always like to meet another aviator.

Excellent. Thanks for the generous offer! I'll definitely take you up on that and be sure to have lots of cold beer and Jack Daniels on hand

Neighbor Pete wrote:Terry,
I am moving to McCall ID in the next several months and as soon as I get my shop set up there I will be starting on a Highlander build. I am plannning to build it with a Rotax 912 ULS as many others have.

I'm not sure if you know about the Just Aircraft forum or not, but here is the link.

http://www.wingsforum.com/viewforum.php?f=218

There is a guy named Paul in Orwigsburg, PA who just finished building up a really nice one with Rotax912 ULS. User b1x4ngb. He's very active with posts and pics and I'm sure he'd be more than willing to answer any questions you may have. Maybe you could get lucky and have him take you up in it too as it looks like you might live relatively close to each other.

Moving to Idaho, huh?! That is excellent! I bet you're going to have a blast flying out there. You definitely have to keep us informed as to how your build comes along.

And thanks very much for the info on Paul in PA.