Yamaha Motor Co. has teamed with ShinMaywa Industries, a Japanese industrial conglomerate descended from the Kawanishi Aircraft Company, to conduct joint research on a next-generation general aviation aircraft.
Under a new agreement, Yamaha Motor will explore avenues for adapting its small-engine technologies to the aviation industry.
ShinMaywa will adapt its aircraft engineering technologies and expertise — garnered through the development of flying boats and various other aircraft — to designing concepts, constructing prototypes, conducting tests, verifying autonomous technology, and more for small aircraft.
Both companies will use the joint research endeavor “to explore possibilities for the commercialization of next-generation small aircraft, and take into consideration the direction and future of the project based on market interest and other factors,” officials with both companies said.
Kyle is right, I stand corrected…the Aero Momentum engine is based on a Suzuki 1.5L engine.
Wish Honda would join in as well
Take a look at the Aero Momentum engine. It’s based on a 4 cyl Yamaha engine. A friend has one on his RV12 and it is a very strong engine.
I believe that the Aeromomentum engines (there is a series of different HP versions) are based on brand new Suzuki automotive engines. They appear to have a good track record.
I have wondered why this didn’t happen a decade ago….my guess would be liability. However, to me this is a game changer and Continental and Lycoming will have to work even harder to keep customers once they get into the larger competing engines. I would bet that if this works out and they get certification, they will be the engines of the millennia and not the 1900s.
How much HP would these new engines produce?
From what I could find on the Yamaha website, it’s a 900 cc twin, so I’d expect it to produce 50-60 hp.
They also displayed a 3cyl engine, probably 80-90 hp.+
It might compete with the 80 hp Rotax 912, but the smallest Lycoming and Continental
are 115 and 100 hp.
Or, maybe, “bike on aircraft” 😁
About time. My Yamaha boat is simply amazing. Can’t wait to get in a plane with a bullet proof , fuel efficient Yamaha engine
A sign of hope. Rotax is ramping up its prices to the point of be comparable to Lycoming/Continental levels. While 1990 technology beats 1950, GA has no future with $40,000+ engine prices.
The carberatorated Rotax 912 ULS is a FAR CRY from the 915 iSC engine. Hence the price range. The 915iSC develops 141hp with full FADEC, turbocharger and fuel injection. The little Yamaha engines will have a long way to go to equal the 915. And when it does, the prices will reflect it.
The Yamaha Apex based EpeX engine series (EPeX150i, EPeX200Ti, EPeX300Ti) from Edge Performance in Norway range from 150 hp to over 300 hp.
Steve Henry has switched from Rotax to the EPeX300Ti and has posted some videos. They all use the Sky-Trax gearbox which is a work of art (and a lot stronger than the Rotax gear boxes).
Maybe they should google “steve henry yamaha apex”…..
Or “Molt Taylor Kawasaki”
OTOH; had a Yamaha engine in my 1992 Ford SHO Taurus. It was fairly stout.