Does anybody from Desert Aircraft subscribe to RCU ? If so, could you please keep us posted on the DA-75 development? and the DA-200 if possible.

Reason I ask, got a build I would like to start and it will revolve around the DA-75.

regards, zz

Man I like how that sounds DA, DA, DA ....

It's in the same place where the BME 55 Extreme is...
They will be released only when ready..

The DA75 is very close to release... production builds are already being flown for final testing...

I'd say you'll be building that project soon...

Just spoke to DA on the phone. The DA75 is 4 to 6 months away from release to the public. [&o]

Why wait for the mythical motor when there are four production motors available in that size?
Any of these motors that exist will have better performance than a motor that doesn't exist....

In no particular order....ZDZ-80 the original, ZDZ-80-J, Evo-80, 3W-80

Also, I wouldn't bet the farm that the DA will be superior to all of these when it does become available.

I think perhaps he likes the performance and service from DA and wishes to own another. Can't fault him there.

Hi,
I would bet that DA has delayed introduction, because of the stiff competion. They wouldn't want to release an engine that's weaker then the competion. Thats what I think.

Dave

It may already be obsolete and its not yet available....[]

Motor heads have always said "there is no replacement for displacement." DA's problem is that all the other engines have more displacement, and they will need to overcome this to be competitive. Even if its a great engine, in all likelihood, the DA will have no more power than the 3W or ZDZ-80. At this point, I think DA's only hope is to come up with an engine that is significantly lighter then the competition, and to be honest, I think BME already has that corner of the market.
I think the DA-75 is a day late.
DA-75....Who cares!

Well I don't think it need be over for them yet. If they can make a very light 75, that is lighter than the ZDZ 80RV, more like the MVVS 58 in weight, and make more power than the MVVS 58, closer to the old ZDZ 80RV they would have a market. It would be less expensive than a BME.

It could be what they are working on

People like DA!

I have owned several DA engines, all of them very nice. You will find that the DA faithfull would rather take it you know where, before they would subject themself to flying a 3w, zdz, mvvs, etc, and thats a shame in itself as all of those are excellent engines, and not too shabby of customer service themself.

First, the DA75 is not half a 150 as you might assume. While the DA50 was pretty much half a 100.... the 75 features some totally new innovations that have been done to optimize this particular engine.

What the power output is remains to be seen, but I don't think it is DA's intention to offer a "single cylinder 100cc alternative that doesn'y QUITE cut the mustard".

I would surmise their goal is to fill a void in single cylinder marketplace... a smooth, lightweight 75 that is brute powerful.

If you look at the market, you'll see a current lack of 75cc airframes... if the marketplace had this niche properly filled, then why aren't there an abundance of 75cc offerings?

Don't get me wrong, I love the ZDZ 80... a monster of an engine and hard to beat... but maybe they aren't trying.

What would be nice is if the new DA75 came in at 3.5 bare engine, swung a 26x10 at about the same as the ZDZ 80 and cost a little less...

There will be a whole new line of ARFs designed for 75cc coming very soon... Chip Hyde has a Yak and CAP coming to start. ANd whether you choose the EVO, ZDZ, DA, 3W or others, it's all good.

Me? I'm hoping for a LIGHT option...

Thats what I am thinking. The new ZDZ80RVJ, Evo 80, and the 3W 80i are 5lbs. The old ZDZ 80 RV is 4.4 lbs. So if they can make the DA 75 run smooth at say 3.8lbs, and turn a 26-10 at 6000rpm. I think they will sell as good as the DA 50 did, but they are very carefull with the weight thing now!

Maybe they are busy at work trimming off the grams

I have a good friend who lives in Tucson, Arizona, the home of Desert Aircraft, and he is familiar with the DA-75 program. He has seen the engine run and has spoken with those who have helped to develop this new offering. What he has told me is that DA has completed all the testing and is confident in the product's performance and durability.

What has been holding the DA-75's release back is simply a matter of manufacturing capacity. With the success and popularity of their existing engines, Desert Aircraft has been more than busy filling orders for their existing product line. Dave Johnson moved his operation to a new and larger facility a while back and has been coordinating all the complexities of his business, product line, accessories and customer support. Not a small feat!

The DA-75 will arrive one day and, I'm sure, it will be worth the wait. I'm just glad that there are folks like Dave who will thoroughly test, evaluate and finalize their products before releasing them to the public.

As for which product name will be superior in this displacement size, only time will tell. We are all brand-loyal to some extent and that is part of what makes this hobby of ours so interesting. And when all is said and done, we all win because each of the brands out there are good. These are truly great times to be involved in this wonderful hobby of ours!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Al

Nice post Al, I was told basically the same thing and April of 2006 being the release date. Been saving my pennies, come April I'll be ready

Enjoy the New Year !


zz

So this must mean a new generation 150 is in the works. Right? Who wants to start a pool on the delivery date?

Hi Maudib,
If the DA75 uses all new parts, why would DA make a 75cc, when all of the competion is bigger? This seems to me to be a handicap from the start. The only logical reason for using a 75cc displacment would be to use existing DA150 cylinders and maximize profits through quanity production. Is there such a thing as totally new innovations in a single cylinder two stroke engine?

Dave


[quote]ORIGINAL: Maudib

First, the DA75 is not half a 150 as you might assume. While the DA50 was pretty much half a 100.... the 75 features some totally new innovations that have been done to optimize this particular engine.

Did I miss something? Did DA announce the 75? Of course we know they are working on one but they are working on a lot of stuff yet people are blasting them here about when the 75 will come out. They learned from the 55 Extreme fiasco and have purposly kept it under wraps as much as you can in this small world of RC yet here they are getting it for doing R&D. Amazing.

Just sharing with you what I was told. I thought the same thing, but then again, it's been a long time in coming... Seems a company could have pumped out a "half 150" in a lot less time than this has taken.

My info comes from a top pilot who has helped test the 75 and is flying one now. He says it's obvious by sight that the engine isn't half a 150.

You also must realize that DA doesn't just sell to us toy-boys but also to the government for various projects. There may have been reasons why the 75 needed optimized.

Innovations? Well, I suupose there can be. Otherwise cars would still be Model T's and we'd all be flying Cox engines.

Porting, counterbalancing, weight reduction all come to mind.

Why make a 75 when everyone else makes 80's? Hmmm.. using that consideration, why not make an 85cc instead, then they make a 90... then a 100...

If DA can deliver a 75 that is close to the power as the 80's (their 50 certainly outspins MOST of the other 50's out there... at least the ones I've seen. And if they can bring it in say 1 lb lighter than the 80's... then wingloading will benefit as well. And I think it's very possible they could bring us a 3.5 lb 75.. compare that to a 5 lb 3W, a 4.25 ZDZ 80, 4.6 lb Super 80 or a 4.9 lb EVO 80.

I really don't know what the DA75 will weigh... but I suspect it will be somewhat lighter than the competition.

But in the long run... I don't know... I buy 'em I don't make 'em.


Aerobear... I would conjecture an updated 150 is more likely than keeping a 75 the same tech as the current 150... but I really don't know.

I do know I was told by the test pilot that the 75 was very powerful and smooth.

I guess we will all find out soon enough.

Gee, all this speculation, and y'all are even guessing the weight....
I'm sure it will be a good motor, but I doubt it will weigh less than the old ZDZ-80 at 4.25 lbs. No place to remove the weight without getting problems. You might have noticed the new ZDZ-80 is heavier than the old one - there are good reasons they went heavier.

Pehaps I'm being a little optimistic... but time will tell...

Noone thought that BME could bring a 110cc twin in at 2 lbs lighter than other's 100cc offering either...

Parts is pretty much parts, the lightweight engines have to be smaller somewhere...
Good example is my new G62...By making my mount thinner, leaving the ball bearing mechanical advance of and using syncro spark on the ignition, and making a lighter hub, the weight is down to 4 lbs...I guess if I could drill out the crank and cut off most of the cylinder fins the engine would lose a few more ounces, but why ? Smaller fins would bring cooling issues, a lighter crank would bend easier or possibly break..A thinner mount would not be as resistant to bending..

Why would you go to the trouble you do to reduce the weight of the G62? I would think the answer is obvious. You see the benefit of a lighter engine. Lower wingloading and higher power to weight ratio.


There are a lot of suppositions as to the "bare minimums" an engine needs to be "adequate".

There are quite a few BME 110 Extremes out there now, and we simply haven't heard of a design-wide problem with failures.

We are seeing the same thing in aircraft manufacturing... what used to be considered as good, strong building design is now considered "over building".

I think there is a happy medium between reliability and weight reduction. And it takes manufacturers like BME, DA and others to R&D these "givens" until they find that sweet spot. Are we there yet? I don't know... Maybe the 110 IS too lightened... maybe not. But again... I'm sure that every other manufacturer out there was saying... "NO WAY! That engine will burn up in the first few hours." They've been proved wrong.

Hopefully they will all do some additional testing to determine where they can save more weight without sacrificing longevity/reliability... just qas you have with your G62 mods.