Earthstar Forums

My Jt2 with this engine is a perfect setup.The empty weight ( W& B ) is 559 pounds
Fuel capacity is 15 gallons. Although it can hit 125 mph ,I mostlly run at 4350 to 4500 and
see speeds @ 95 -100.Fuel burn is @ 2.5 an hour according to fuel flow meter on the EIS.
Take off is very quick rotating at 65 and climbing at 80 ( my personal Vy ) Higher speeds with the D cell
wing just result in a sharp increase of fuel burn. Plus I often fly with slower guys to various cook outs/Fly ins.
The engines are expensive compared to the 2 strokes , however with a 2,000 hour TBO and having already racked up
over 600 hours, in the long run the 912 's are worth it.The 80 hp burns 1 gallon less an hour than the 100 hp version. You would only
see a greater climb rate and fuel burn not top speed.
There is a video I posted on You-Tube showing the performance of this Thundergull with a Kiev prop pitched for cruise
" earthstar JT2 Thundergull take off " under my cjmcarl posting
Hope to hear updates on the Electric gull Martin is building plus more on John Bubel's plane from River Acres , Florida.
Hope my input answers your questions.
Carl

Yes of course, Carl; 80HP is way too cool for a JT2 pilot by himself!

Just brought up the GT thinking someone may have figured out the power plant; more likely a H2 fuel cell with a ~gasoline auto thermal reformer (like an advanced steam boiler that burns with low oxygen) that generates H2 on the fly without a large pressurized tank; they replaced the turbine APUs from the tails of commercial jets with these, one can only imagine the cost, hope they come down soon

rc