Motavia aircraft engine from Klaymor Ltd.

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For a number of years now I have covered the progress of the Motavia engine. When it first appeared at Sun N Fun, it looked like the answer many pilots were waiting for. A four stroke 80 hp engine with a weight comparable to that of the 582 Rotax.

Add to this the fact that is mounting pattern was the same as the 582 and you had a "recipe" for an instant market - that of a replacement for the Rotax 582.

Well time went by and NO engines were being delivered! The factory and the U.S. distributor parted ways. Production at various times was reported halted as "changes" for the better were introduced.  However orders and deposits were being taken. Then at Sun N Fun an aircraft was displayed and flying on a trike. Several manufacturers were promised delivery soon after.

At last years show I expected to see several planes flying with the new Motavia engine, but couldn't find any. Checking around I was told that while a couple of "proto-type" engines had been delivered the gear boxes were not up to task and "literally self destructed while being run up."

At Sun N Fun this year a new manufacturer from Africa had acquired the design. Then at Airventure YET another New manufacturer Klaymor Ltd. 

Klaymor Ltd. is based in England, they had three engines on display with two for sale. They also had one mounted on a new Kolb which was flying in to the show. It was late arriving - apparently the engine was having an overheating problem when being used in a pusher configuration.

It will be interesting to see whether  Klaymor Ltd. will be able to overcome the "history" of lost deposits, and failure to pay advertising bills, after all it is the magazines that promote the product - that the previous producers have left them with.

For more information contact:

Klaymor Ltd  
Unit 6 Woodside  South Marston Park  
Swindon  Wiltshire  
SN3 4WA England 

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