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Bill Sadler had his Sadler Vampire at the 2008 U.S. Sport Aviation
Exposition. Sadler announced the introduction of the plane into the
lightsport aircraft category at Airventure 2007, at that time it was
planned that the craft would be powered by the 100 HP Rotax 912 S.
At Airventure Bill met Eric Barger of RotaMax Rotary Engines of Ohio,
and he was so impressed with company and engine that he decided to use
it in the Vampire. Since Airventure he has put over 40 hours of trouble
free flying on the engine.
At Sebring he had the engine in his booth on static display. He also
demonstrated the engine running in the Vampire. According to Bill the
engine is very smooth, sounds a lot like a turbine, and is considerably
more powerful than the Rotax 912 S.
The RotaMax engine is not something that is new to the market. It was
originally developed by OMC, at one time one of the largest outboard
engine manufacturers in Canada.
RotaMax purchased the design, and has reintroduced it to the market.
RotaMax is now marketing the engine for Recreational, OEM,
Transportation, Aviation, Marine, Aftermarket and Xtreme applications,
which is where the name RotaMax originates from.
The unit is available in two configurations a 650cc single rotor of
75 hp which weighs 90 lbs and a 1300cc twin rotor unit putting out 150
hp and weighing 140 lbs.
The ASTM LSA engines have a dual ignition system, and are fuel
injected. The unit uses a spur gear reduction drive system with a 1.95
to 1 reduction ratio.
Bill reports that the Vampire is well on the way to LSA certification
with about 95% of the design locked down. The only major modification
that is being done is to add a set of Gull Wing doors to it to allow
easier entrance and exit.
The factory plan is to have aircraft ready for delivery to customers
towards Oshkosh 2008.
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