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THE ROTAX 916

SA Flyer Magazine

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May 2023

You may have to forgive us for listing a whole new aero engine as a mere gadget – and thus suitable for review in our Gadget of the Month series. But the Rotax 916iS so small, yet so powerful it represents the ultimate gadget.

THE ROTAX 916

AFTER MUCH SPECULATION the 916 was launched at this year’s Sun ’n Fun in Florida USA and then in Friedrichshafen in Germany.

Derived directly from the 915, the 916 is also a turbocharged intercooled, four-cylinder, liquid-cooled flat-four. The big trick is that it makes yet more power (160 vs 141 peak; 137 vs 135 max continuous) than its predecessor. This comes from a series of small adjustments, including a new exhaust system, revised engine mapping – and an increase in turbocharging boost.

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