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When will a diesel be available for my aircraft? |
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News, facts, and comments on the coming revolution for piston-engine aircraft.News of September 12, 2006What is significant about American Flyers buying a fleet of 172 Thielerts?Last July 28, during a ceremony at the Superior Engines display tent at AirVenture 2006, Frank Thielert, Managing Director of Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, officially presented the first Centurion 1.7 equipped C-172 to American Flyers' President Clark McCormack and to David Huser and Rick Freidinger, Vice-Presidents. The aircraft are now used for training at their Pompano Beach, FL facility. When asked, McCormack said they have plans to convert their 55 aircraft fleet of C-172s "if things work out the way we hope." Epic aviation of New Smyrna Beach, FL performed the conversion under the STC awarded to Thielert in January of 2005. Tony Perna of Epic says they stand ready to complete other customer conversions "immediately." The conversion takes "about two weeks" according to Thielert. "In Europe we reach cost amortization after 670 hours of engine operation. In the US we expect that to remain below 1000 hours," said Thielert. Higher fuel prices in Europe speed along that amortization. Reminder: The Centurion 1.7 is an inline 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled diesel cycle engine displacing 1.7 liters (104 cubic inches) producing 135 hp. So? It means the thin end of the wedge is in. A better than new Cessna 172 Thielert can be obtained by buying an old 172 with a damaged engine or close to TBO, and converting it to diesel while putting state of the art avionics, doing a corrosion treatment and paint job and putting a new interior, all this for less than the price of a new Cessna 172SP. And as soon as their number will build up their market value is going to get closer to the price of a new Cessna because it simply is a superior plane: Ceiling of 17,500, cruise speed at 12,000 ft over 120 knots, range with 40 gallons usable allowing easily an IFR flight of 5 hours with 2 hours of legal reserves alternate included, while spending much less on fuel. A student who learns to fly on a 172 Thielert will want to buy such a plane and will find ready maintenance ability where he learned to fly. It is the right scenario for US market introduction. To read more on this, we suggest you order the CDRom of Andre s presentation (PowerPoint) on the Coming of aero diesel to US General Aviation from http://www.lulu.com/content/336659 We will be curious to read about American Flyers experience and about other flight academies following the same avenue. posted at 2:59 PM |
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