Hello,
Just letting you know that I now have 252 hours on my RV9 / WAM120 diesel. I have had zero problems with this engine / MT prop combination. Other than normal maintenance, and a few factory SB's, all I've had to do is put fuel in it and fly it.
I've flown it non-stop as far as Eugene, OR, on 24 gal fuel, almost the full length of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, and all over Nevada, CA, UT and AZ.
I'm very happy with my little diesel. I mostly run diesel fuel, which saves me a lot of $$$ (in winter, I run Jet A). I have yet to find an airport that doesn't have Jet A available.
I've had a couple of interesting experiences: I had the lineman in Provo Utah fill me up with Jet A. I walked into MillionAire, the FBO, to use the restroom. As I came out, I saw the manager running out to the ramp in a panic. I ran out and asked him what the problem was, and he said he had seen the Jet A truck filling my RV, and had thought they were filling it with the wrong fuel. In Loreto, Mexico, I had a heck of a time convincing the fuel guys to sell me Jet fuel. They finally had to bring out the big semi truck that they fuel the big jets with! They had to rig up a funnel because the nozzle was twice as big as my fuel inlet.
As for Wilksch Airmotive, they have been very supportive and professional. Parts availability has not been a problem. They are still testing the newer 140 hp version, which is a larger bore version of the current one, with some improvements. I look forward to having one - the extra HP will be nice, although the current 120 hp has been more than adequate.
Kurt Goodfellow
RV9 / WAM 120 Diesel, flying since 2008.
Just letting you know that I now have 252 hours on my RV9 / WAM120 diesel. I have had zero problems with this engine / MT prop combination. Other than normal maintenance, and a few factory SB's, all I've had to do is put fuel in it and fly it.
I've flown it non-stop as far as Eugene, OR, on 24 gal fuel, almost the full length of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, and all over Nevada, CA, UT and AZ.
I'm very happy with my little diesel. I mostly run diesel fuel, which saves me a lot of $$$ (in winter, I run Jet A). I have yet to find an airport that doesn't have Jet A available.
I've had a couple of interesting experiences: I had the lineman in Provo Utah fill me up with Jet A. I walked into MillionAire, the FBO, to use the restroom. As I came out, I saw the manager running out to the ramp in a panic. I ran out and asked him what the problem was, and he said he had seen the Jet A truck filling my RV, and had thought they were filling it with the wrong fuel. In Loreto, Mexico, I had a heck of a time convincing the fuel guys to sell me Jet fuel. They finally had to bring out the big semi truck that they fuel the big jets with! They had to rig up a funnel because the nozzle was twice as big as my fuel inlet.
As for Wilksch Airmotive, they have been very supportive and professional. Parts availability has not been a problem. They are still testing the newer 140 hp version, which is a larger bore version of the current one, with some improvements. I look forward to having one - the extra HP will be nice, although the current 120 hp has been more than adequate.
Kurt Goodfellow
RV9 / WAM 120 Diesel, flying since 2008.