Has anyone heard about or can anyone comment about this possibly new engine? Performance, weight, cost, availability, etc.? If this is true, it will cut into other 80 size singles BIG-TIME!!!

Dave Johnson at Desert Aircraft has admitted that they have been testing prototypes and that it could happen, he also said that he will never take order or advertise a engine until it is 100% ready to ship. So can you get or look at a DA-75 no, will they come out/ it is just a matter of time. So if you don't see it on the www.desertaircraft.com or here it from Dave Johnson then don't believe it.

I talked to them last week when ordering another engine and they said it was something that may be released in the future, but they are not working on it right now.

Probably a wise decision to shelve this one. I mean after all how many planes out there really fly unlimited on a zdz 80, just the 33% h9 planes, everything bigger requires a 100 twin, everything smaller works with a 50. I just dont see the market until more 90-98" planes come out on the market. couple that with the fact the zdz 80 is a popular powerful motor that more than likely would still be stronger/cheaper than the da 75 I wonder if this motor will ever see the light of day. What we really need are cheaper 100 cc twins, say sub 900 bucks, then people would quit looking at 75-80 cc's all together

I agree about the cheaper twins but if DA would come out with the 75 I expect it would be alittle more than the ZDZ but people would jump on it, I mean after all it is a DA and the market for the 33%ers is big enough to justify producing it...[8D]

I'd love a DA75. I'd also like a reliable 30cc for sport/utility flying that weights in pretty low from DA. That is a large market IMO where there are lots of ARFs and people can afford them. JMO!~) I love my DA50, it is really coming in now at just over 2 gallons.

Joe !~)

Greetings,

I have spoken to Dave at DA a few times on this topic, as have many of you. What he told me is and I quote " We won't announce a DA~75 until we have 200 of them sitting on a shelf for sale".
SO, even tho they are working on one, they have enough class to keep it to themselves until they actually have them.
Also, Dave said that under their current production schedule, they cannot/do not have the staffing/space to add another line of engines, but the main thing is that they keep there vendors so busy now with the current offerings, they would have to hire more vendors to do another line of engines. (Not to mention the obvious problems developing new relationships)
Since I worked at the machine shop (many years ago) that makes the cases for the DA~50 I know the owner and facility pretty well.
They have always had from time to time consistency issues with their suppliers of bar stock GETTING the ALUMINUM to them on time, when promised.
This in turn gets the finished product to DA off it's schedule and the trickle down theory is proven once again.

Dave also mentioned that he has had a whole batch of engines in the past, not be able to ship just because of a single SCREW!
All it takes is just one vendor to have a problem delivering goods on time to tick people off from Arizona to Timbucktoo.
As I see more and more company's suffer these same types of delivery/supply issues these days, I blame the Internet for being able to illuminate these issues to the thousands of people to whom in reality, is just none of their business.

So, what we will do is keep talking of an engine that is not now, nor in the immediate future available, getting folks all worked up and wondering ***, where is it?
Trouble is I see no way to stop it, do you?

Zenoah G26 conversion, $385, 2 1/2 lbs, 9000 rpm with a Mejzlik 18-6, 17 1/2 lbs pull on a spring scale..
sorry, couldn't resist

what in the #@$% was that G26, what the #%$@.

Hahahahaha!!!! Ralph! Your the best! What about the macs pipe? Another 10oz but a 1000 more RPM? hahahaah!!!

oxo

joe

BME engines or

OMG, I know that chick![:-]

joe

BLA BLA BBAAAHHHH

I hear what you are saying and from a marketing perspective it makes sense, but I hope - HOPE - this never happens. I love my DA motor and think it was the best money I ever spent. If you want that cheaper motor you can go to other manufacturers who have different brand levels (i.e. champion etc) but I think this would be a mistake for DA. I hope the motors get BETTER and would be willing to pay even more for it. I want the same reliability / technology that the top guys are using - not just the name...
RickP

Did you ever stop and think how they can make a 17 HP full riding lawn mower with transmission, deck, etc etc for 999 but they cant make a small 2 cylinder engine for less than 1100. And jeez people are willing to pay more? I dont get it. A few years back DA was just a company with a dream. All it would take for a new startup is some quality built engines for less and a few "names" to fly them

Tom buddy, I am with you 10000%..... About 2 years ago, I started a thread which was about the cost of certain things in this hobby and how rediculous it can be. The fact of the matter is, we pay the prices we do because there are more than enough people willing to pay more...... Wish I had their money!!!

Smallfly and Captain, you are both correct.

What you are saying would be great but the fact of the matter is these are small market, hi end items. We are paying for the tooling, labor, marketing of something that is limited in production. The lawnmowers are cheaper because 100,000 are made at 1 time and the tooling cost is spread out over those units. Many specialized markets are like that. I would love to get a DA cheaper but.....

Guys,
I don't mean to insult anyont so please don't take it that way. If you think DA is too expensive then don't buy it. You have your choice - buy a Zenoah, or Fugi. Deputy dog is right, We are a nitch market and regardless of where that market is (Lawn mowers or model airplanes) the price reflects a nitch market that doesn't descriminate because we are modelers. Coming from a Manufacturing background I honestly don't know how DA does it for the price they offer - I think they do a good job. You can bolt a lawn mower engine onto your plane if you want, but I don't think you'll be happy.
Regards,
RickP

Amen ,Rickp

So back to the topic at hand, whats the latest word on the 75 is it becomming a reality or not?

Mick.

Why would anyone wait for a DA75? Is the DA-150 stronger than a ZDZ-160? Is a DA-150 lighter than a ZDZ-160? Why would you expect half of a DA-150 to be better than half of a ZDZ-160 (the one that's been in production for about 3 years now)?

I guess for those of us new to gas the reputation of DA for customer service and of their engines for ease of use and starting, etc. provides some comfort. I'm interested in a Wild Hare Giles 202 for my first gas airplane and I could use a ZDZ 80, which in many ways (power to weight) is ideal or I could use a DA 100 (overpowered and heavy for this airplane). I suppose if a DA 75 was available it would be an easy decision for me to buy one even though I know there are a lot of happy ZDZ owners as well.

It's been a few months now and the story on the 75 has not changed. Infact - hearing talk of difficulty supporting existing manufacturing I don't think the empahsis is high at the moment. However, the 50 with the pipe just screams. it's a lb lighter then the ZDZ-80 so if you have a smaller airframe it could be an option - where a normal 50 would not be enough I don't know about the wild hair thou...
RickP

The Wild Hare Giles 202 weight about 22 lbs...too much for the DA 50 even with tuned pipes. The Wild Hare Extra or Edge would only weigh 16 lbs with the DA 50, but hey, I'm 40 and would like to treat myself to an airplane that flies "big."

Decisions, decisions...