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Looking for an engine to power your
Kitfox, Pietenpol or similar light aircraft?
The people at Hexadyne Aviation think
they have just the answer for you. The
Hexadyne P60 is a new, clean-sheet design
that is just coming to market, and the
manufacturer is based here in Salt Lake
City.
Hexadyne is a division of Hexatron
Engineering Company, Inc., an aerospace
engineering and manufacturing firm that
has been in operation since 1983. Hexatron
builds FAA certified folding crew seats for
commercial airliners, as well as replacement
hub and brake components for C-130 and
F-16 aircraft that are supplied to Hill Air
Force base maintenance facilities.
Cy Williams, President and
Chief
Engineer of Hexadyne, recently gave Shane
Rosanova and myself a tour of the 12,000
sq. ft. manufacturing plant on North
Redwood Rd. Cy explained that Hexatron
originally got involved in experimental
aviation when they became distributors for
the now-defunct Merlin aircraft line five
years ago. Cy soon realized that what was
really needed was a high-quality, reliable
and lightweight four stroke engine in the
60 horsepower range.
That realization was
the genesis of a three-year, million-dollar
research and development effort that has
resulted in the design of the Hexadyne P60.
The P60 is a horizontally opposed,
four-stroke, four valve per cylinder, aircooled,
two cylinder engine that displaces
800 cc’s and produces 60 horsepower at
5750 RPM. The cylinder heads have been
designed with extra emphasis on cooling,
with plenty of fin area and large air
passages through the center of the head.
The cylinders are directly across from each
other, a design feature to reduce the rocking
vibration that results when cylinders are
offset. Hexadyne was able to do this by
using one connecting rod for one cylinder
and two smaller rods on their own crank
journals for the other side cylinder. The
crankshaft, a beefy steel forging, rides in a
vertically-split, two piece aluminum
crankcase that incorporates the cylinders.
A Nikasil liner in each cylinder provides
the wear surface for the forged aluminum
pistons to ride in. Lubrication is provided
by a two-stage dry sump oil system.
Camshafts and oil pumps are gear-driven
off the rear of the crankshaft, where the
integral 45-amp alternator is mounted.
The dual throttle body fuel injection
and ignition are scheduled by an engine
management computer, which provides
single lever power management.
The front
of the engine contains an integral 2.5 to 1
spur-gear reduction gearbox, with thrust
bearings that can handle tractor or pusher
propeller thrust loads. The engine redline
is 5750 RPM, which gives 2300 RPM at the
prop. Engine mounting is handled by a rear,
four point dyna-focal ring.
After pointing out the design features
of the engine, Cy introduced us over to
one of his engine techs, named
(appropriately enough!) Curtiss Wright.
Curtiss led us to the back of the shop,
where a P60 was mounted on a test stand.
He started it up, and did runs up and down
the engine RPM range, with the three-blade
Warp Drive propeller creating quite a
breeze. This particular engine had already
amassed more than 800 hours of running
time, and Cy said they expect an initial TBO
of 1000 hours.
The engine is expected to be available
by this summer, and Hexadyne already has
deposits on 25 engines. Aircraft Spruce
and Specialty will be carrying it in their next
catalog. The engines will each get a two
hour test stand run before being shipped,
and will be supplied with an installation,
maintenance and overhaul manual.
The
engine will be warranted for two years
against defective parts. Initial target price
is $8,800 dollars.
Compact size, light-weight (98 lbs),
four stroke reliability and high quality
together in one package make the
Hexadyne P60 an attractive option for light
aircraft builders. Hexadyne Aviation might
just have the next “big” little engine right
here in Salt Lake!
The Hexadyne 2-cylinder engine and prop make
a compact firewall-forward package. They are
being marketed for ultralights and light aircraft
that will fit under the new sport pilot FAR
category. |
