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After the news that Mark Wilksch joined Continental for that very purpose, we hear now from Rhett Ross, the new Teledyne-Continental CEO, that the company has approved developing very quickly its own diesel, and will be ready in early 2010 in a range beginning with 300-350HP and later going on down to 100HP. It means therefore that any long term plan for Thielert supplying Cessna is still very uncertain. But developing any aero engine is a long term project implying high risks. Continental had already developed a 2-stroke diesel prototype with NASA money in the last nineties, and put it on the back burner. Then we heard about some cooperation with Honda, before the news that Cessna was offering now as an option a Thielert 2-liter 155HP on the 172 beginning in August 08. Ross said in an interview to Paul Bertorelli (Aviation Consumer) that two factors are pushing them: the demand for alternative fuels, and the demand for engines burning JetA from overseas GA market. Therefore the diesel. Mark Wilksch has a proven record in 2 strokes, so we might expect the future Continental diesel to be a 2-stroke.

Does it means that the long term future is with the 2-stroke diesel? Not yet. It simply means that between 4-stroke opposite piston air cooled, the 4-stroke in line liquid cooled geared engine and the 2-stroke engine the future is still wide open.

Ross mentions that a combination of FADEC technology with a new no-lead high octane auto fuel might also impact on the market. He reminds that some 250,000 aircraft are still dependent on gasoline, and this is why it makes sense to prepare the no-lead high octane option.

News, facts, and comments on the coming revolution for piston-engine aircraft.

News of February 24, 2008

Continental will finally develop its own diesel engine

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