 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
When will a diesel be available for my aircraft? |
|
News, facts, and comments on the coming revolution for piston-engine aircraft.News of September 14, 2005Thielert, world leader in aero diesels, reports 75,000 flight hours with its TAE Centurion 1.7 liter.Lichtenstein, 13 Sep. 05 - The Centurion 1.7 jet fuel piston aircraft engine has become a synonym for state-of-the-art engine technology in General Aviation. The manufacturer, Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE), celebrated the inaugural flight with this engine on 9 September 2005 for the fifth time. Until now this engine has accumulated 75,000 flight hours and is installed in general aviation aircraft as well as in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Recently the installation in further aviation models was approved: Robin DR400, Cessna 172 F, G, H and I series as well as in the USA for the Diamond DA42. Nine additional service centres comprise the global service network for the Centurion engines. Despite being a young company, TAE celebrated two anniversaries in 2005. In the summer the company celebrated five years of production at its plant in Lichtenstein (Saxony, Germany). And on 9 September 2005 it celebrated the fifth anniversary of the inaugural flight with a TAE piston engine: on 9/9/2000 a Valentin Taifun power glider took off from the Altenburg airfield with the prototype TAE 110 engine. In March 2001 the TAE 110 became the worlds first diesel engine to receive approval from the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (German Federal Office of Civil Aviation). The TAE gave rise to todays Centurion 1.7 production engine, which has gone on in recent years to become the worlds most successful diesel/jet fuel aircraft engine with over 400 units produced. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), one of the worlds leading manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), received the contract for the "Systems Development and Demonstration" phase of the US Armys Extended Range Multi-Purpose UAV programme (ER/MP). This involves a UAV of the model Warrior, which is powered by a TAE Centurion 1.7 jet fuel aircraft engine. The first flight of the Warrior took place on 25 October 2004. GA-ASI added the jet fuel engine especially to meet the US Army s goal of using a single fuel for all systems (DoD Directive 4041). The Warrior UAV is the diesel version of the well-known Predator and is intended to be deployed by the US Army for long endurance surveillance, communications relay, and weapons delivery missions. The installation of the Centurion 1.7 allows the Warrior to fly at an altitude of over 23,000 feet with improved engine performance and fuel consumption, reduced maintenance costs, a longer lifespan and facilitated field logistics, as diesel fuel is easily available. For Thielert the use of this engine in the ER/MP programme represents a consolidation of its defence technology business and means further growth due to development contracts. It also gives higher credibility worldwide to the very concept of diesel engine for aircraft. The Centurion 1.7 jet fuel retrofit kit has been approved for installation in further Cessna 172s. The supplemental type certificates issued by EASA on 6 September 2005 cover the Cessna 172 F, G, H and I series, both those manufactured in France and in the USA. The Centurion 1.7 has long been approved for the K, L, M, N, P, R and S series. TAE therefore has supplemental type certificates for the vast majority of the Cessna 172 fleet. TAE has also added Egypt Air, an established large flight school, to its client list. The first two Cessna 172s are currently being fitted with the Centurion 1.7 retrofit kit. Egypt Air will equip a total of twelve Cessnas with the jet fuel engine. In the US, where FAA has issued the STC for the 172 conversion, EPIC Aviation in Florida is the certified service center licensed to sell individual conversions in Latin America, and, for the time being, to propose fleets of converted 172s to Flight Academies who are willing to train their mechanics. This until other service centers are opened. Parties interested contact Thielert through the Centurion website: http://info.thielert.com/centurion/sales/sales_service.php TAE continues to expand the international service network for its Centurion engines. Its technicians have been trained at the engine plant in Lichtenstein. Having been examined by TAE, they are then authorised to carry out service and maintenance on the Centurion engines. There are 70 Centurion service centres in the world. The following aviation technology companies now belong to the worldwide service network: Aerotech Aircraft Maintenance LTC, Coventry, England. Airtime Aviation Ltd., Christchurch, England. Deltair Airmotive, Ltd., Hants, England. Transal Aero Service BV, RA Arnemuiden, Netherlands. Aero Service BV, Lelystad, Netherlands. Vliegwerk Holland BV, Arnemuiden, Netherlands. N. a. c. Maintenance AS, Bardufoss, Norway. Tromso Flyklubb, Tromso, Norway. Sontea Srl, Bergamo, Italy. Again contact details may be found on the Centurion website. The Diamond DA42-TDI with Centurion 1.7 is now also certified in the USA. The Diamond DA42-TDI, which is fitted with two Centurion 1.7 engines from TAE was certified by the US FAA. The ultra-modern aviation design with the most up-to-date cell, engine and avionics technology is enjoying enormous demand. At present over 500 orders are awaiting delivery. A major reason for this interest is TAEs easily operated Centurion jet fuel piston engines which reduce operating costs by over 50 per cent and which can also be run on standard aviation jet fuel (kerosene). Following the Cessna 172, the Diamond DA42-TDI is the second aircraft model with a TAE diesel engine to receive US approval. FAA "Aircraft Certification Services" Director John Hickey presented the certificate at the EAA Convention in Oshkosh. The DA42-TDI from Diamond Aircraft Industries (DAI) is fitted with two Thielert Centurion 1.7 turbo diesel engines, which can either be run on automotive diesel (EN 590) or kerosene. Each of these engines achieves135 HP (99 kW). In Europe DAI received the European Aviation Safety Agency approval certificate for the DA42 Twin Star at the Berlin Air Show in May 2004. Since the end of March 2005 DAI has delivered more than 35 aircraft with the much sought-after diesel engine. The first US deliveries are planned for the first quarter of 2006. The Diesel-Robin DR400 135 CDI has been certified by EASA. On 7 July 2005 TAE received supplemental type certification from the EASA to install the engine. The French aircraft manufacturer Apex Aircraft thereby became TAEs second OEM customer. Numerous orders have already been received for this type of aircraft. The state-of-the-art Centurion 1.7 jet fuel engine follows the traditional and proven wooden design of the DR400, producing aircraft with superb flight qualities whose ultra-modern powerplants make it both economical and easy to operate. The fuel consumption while cruising is 21l/h at a speed of 126 kts. Its flight range with a 30 US gallon standard tank is 613 NM. In climb flight the Robin 135 CDI achieves 680 ft/min. As in all aircraft that are fitted with a Centurion engine, the Robin also has fully electronic engine and propeller control with a control lever. The approval range of the supplemental type certificate covers the Robin DR400 RP, 120D, 140B, 180R and 200R. Initially the Centurion 1.7 will only be fitted in new aircraft. A retrofit kit for refitting Avgas-Robins is in development. Visit http://www.centurion-engines.com posted at 6:00 AM |
Previous Posts
Special report: A fruitful dialogue between Aviati...
|
