Rotax

Rotax is the brand name for a range of internal combustion engines developed and manufactured by the Austrian company BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG[1] (until 2016 BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG), in turn owned by the Canadian Bombardier Recreational Products.

For the former British component manufacturer, see Lucas Industries.
BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG
Private company
IndustryMechanical engineering
Founded1920
Headquarters
Gunskirchen
,
Austria
ProductsInternal combustion engines
OwnerBRP-Powertrain Management GmbH,
BRP Holdings (Austria) GmbH
ParentBombardier Recreational Products
Websitewww.rotax.com

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 aero 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 503
Rotax 582 mounted in a Quad City Challenger II

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:

Karting engines

The company developed the Rotax MAX engine for Karting. This 2-stroke engine series was launched in 1997.[6]

OEM

The company also produces unbranded engines, parts and complete powertrains for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM).[7] Uses include motor bikes and scooters, with complete engines including the Rotax 122 and Rotax 804.[8] Motorcycle manufacturers using Rotax engines include Aprilia, BMW (F and G series), Buell and KTM.

References
  1. BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG (2014). "Company profile at brp-powertrain.com". Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  2. "Bombardier Recreational Products & Vehicles - BRP USA". brp.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  3. Gunston, W.; "World Encyclopaedia of Aero Engines", 4th Edition, Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1998, Page 170.
  4. "Company history up to 1969". Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  5. "The Glaser-Dirks DG500M". aopa.org. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  6. Gschossmann Dominik. "Kart Engine Business of BRP-Powertrain". rotax-kart.com. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  7. Gschossmann Dominik. "we build your engine - Home". rotax-oem.com. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  8. "Startseite". BRP-Rotax. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
External video
How Rotax Builds Aircraft Engines on AVweb
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