Rotax
 | |
| Private company | |
| Industry | Mechanical engineering, Aerospace |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Headquarters | Gunskirchen, Austria |
| Products | Internal combustion engines |
| Owner |
BRP-Powertrain Management GmbH, |
| Parent | Bombardier Recreational Products |
| Website |
www |
Rotax is the brand name for a range of internal combustion engines developed and manufactured by the Austrian company BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG[1] (until 2008 BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG), in turn owned by the Canadian Bombardier Recreational Products.
Rotax four-stroke and advanced two-stroke engines are used in a wide variety of small land, sea and airborne vehicles. Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) use them in their own range of such vehicles.[2] In the light aircraft class, in 1998 Rotax outsold all other engine manufacturers combined.[3]
History
The company was founded in 1920 in Dresden, Germany as ROTAX-WERK AG. In 1930, it was taken over by Fichtel & Sachs and transferred its operations to Schweinfurt, Germany. Operations were moved to Wels, Austria in 1943 and finally to Gunskirchen, Austria in 1947. In 1959, the majority of Rotax shares were taken over[4] by the Vienna-based Lohner-Werke, a manufacturer of car and railway wagon bodies.
In 1970, Lohner-Rotax was bought by the Canadian Bombardier Inc. The former Bombardier branch, Bombardier Recreational Products, now an independent company, uses Rotax engines in its ground vehicles, personal water craft, and snowmobiles.[2]
Products
Aircraft engines
Rotax supplies aircraft engines for ultralight aircraft, light aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Rotax engines designed specifically for light aircraft include both four-stroke and two-stroke models.
Current models are:
Historical models no longer in production include:
- Rotax 277, two-stroke
- Rotax 377, two-stroke
- Rotax 447 UL, two-stroke
- Rotax 503 UL, two-stroke
- Rotax 532 UL, two-stroke
- Rotax 618 UL, two-stroke
Karting engines
The company developed the Rotax MAX engine for Karting. This 2-stroke engine series was launched 1997.[5]
OEM
The company also produces unbranded engines, parts and complete power trains for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM).[6] Uses include motor bikes and scooters, with complete engines including the Rotax 122 and Rotax 804.[7]
References
- ↑ BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG (2014). "Company profile at brp-powertrain.com". Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 BRP web site
- ↑ Gunston, W.; "World Encyclopaedia of Aero Engines", 4th Edition, Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1998, Page 170.
- ↑ "Company history up to 1969". Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ↑ http://www.rotax-kart.com/About-us/Rotax-Karting
- ↑ Rotax OEM web site
- ↑ BRP Rotax OEM products web page
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rotax. |
 How Rotax Builds Aircraft Engines on AVweb |
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