From Lycoming to Rotax — getting ready for Georgia again
For many years, I flew extensively with the Mooney M20J OO-LVT, powered by a traditional Lycoming engine. It was a solid and dependable aircraft that introduced me to long-distance flying across Europe and taught me the discipline of operating a classic piston engine.
Since 2024, I have been flying a brand-new Blackwing, and it quickly became clear that this is a very different concept. The transition from a conventional Lycoming-powered aircraft to a modern Rotax 912iS is not simply a change of aeroplane — it changes the way you think about engine management altogether.
The Lycoming was mechanical, analogue and familiar: mixture management, lower RPM and a very direct relationship between pilot input and engine behaviour.
The Rotax, on the other hand, is electronically managed, runs at higher RPM, and relies on modern systems and automation. It is efficient and remarkably smooth, but understanding what happens behind the scenes becomes more important for the pilot-owner.
Returning to Georgia — a different aircraft, a different role
In 2016, I flew the first expedition to Georgia in a Cessna 182, together with fellow pilots Romain Fouarge and Guido Peterzelka. That journey remains one of the highlights of my flying life.
This time, things are different. I will fly the expedition solely in my own aircraft, the Blackwing, and expect to log roughly 40 flight hours during the journey.
That is sufficient reason to prepare carefully. Flying long distances across several countries, including mountainous terrain, leaves little room for uncertainty about either pilot or aircraft.
Learning the aircraft step by step
Earlier in the aircraft’s life, I already had the opportunity to participate actively in the 150-hour maintenance inspection of the Blackwing, working together with Jos Schwind, who patiently guided me through the process. Rather than simply observing, I was able to understand how inspections are performed, what mechanics look for, and how the Rotax installation is organised within the aircraft.
That experience was extremely valuable as a first step into owner-level understanding of the aircraft. A short video impression of that maintenance can be seen here:
It confirmed to me that being involved in maintenance — even without technical ambitions — greatly improves confidence in the aircraft.
Understanding the Rotax
My aircraft will reach its 200-hour maintenance inspection this spring. I intend to follow this maintenance closely rather than simply dropping off the aircraft. Observing the process is, for me, part of learning how the aircraft actually works.
In addition, I plan to schedule an extra technical inspection before departure to Georgia, ensuring that everything is thoroughly checked before the expedition begins.
To deepen my understanding further, I will attend a Rotax iRMT training course in Biscarrosse this spring, specifically focused on the 912iS engine. Having spent many years flying behind a Lycoming, I realised that the Rotax requires a different type of knowledge. The goal is not to become a mechanic, but to better understand engine behaviour, monitoring and decision-making as an owner-pilot.
Preparing for mountain flying
The route towards Georgia will inevitably involve Alpine-style crossings in Turkey and the Caucasus, where terrain and weather require a different level of anticipation and judgement.
For this reason, I will also spend time flying with Robert Sentef, an experienced mountain flying pilot, author, and a well-known and appreciated figure within the pilot community. Many AOPA Luxembourg members will remember the passionate webinar Robert once delivered on mountain flying, sharing practical insights drawn from real experience.
Our focus will not be on spectacular flying, but on recognising situations early: understanding airflow in valleys, assessing weather evolution, choosing safe routes and, above all, knowing when conditions are no longer favourable. Mountain flying is often less about technique than about decision-making and timing.
Preparing step by step
Preparing for a long journey is not a single task but a series of small steps: learning more about the aircraft, refreshing skills, and reducing unknowns wherever possible.
Nearly ten years after the first Georgia expedition, returning with a different aircraft — and considerably more experience — feels like a natural continuation rather than a repetition. But this time, I’m just on my own as Pilot in command.
A personal note
What I increasingly appreciate in aviation is that confidence does not come automatically with a new aircraft or more advanced technology. Each aeroplane asks the pilot to learn again, to adapt, and sometimes to question habits built over many years.
Moving from the familiar Lycoming world into the Rotax environment showed me that learning never really stops in aviation. Preparing this expedition is therefore not only about reaching Georgia, but also about becoming fully comfortable with the aircraft I fly today.
Following the maintenance, attending the training in Biscarrosse, working on mountain flying skills with Robert, and refining preparation step by step are simply part of that process.
And perhaps that is also what makes such journeys meaningful: the preparation already feels like the beginning of the adventure.
