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News of April 12, 2007

DieselAir Aircraft Conversions, Inc. (DACI) incorporated in Atlanta GA to sell Cessna 182s converted with the SMA engine.

Atlanta, April 11, 2007 - We interviewed yesterday Leonard R. Harris, CEO and major stockholder of DieselAir

Aircraft Conversions, Inc. (DACI), the new venture which he incorporated in April with a group of investors.
'What is news is this, Leonard told us. We came back from France last week-end, where we had a meeting with Luc Pelon, CEO of SMA Engines in Villaroche, France and his management team, and with Patrick Canivet, CEO of FlyJetA LLC in Sarasota FL. FlyJEtA is fully licensed by SMA to convert Cessna 182s with the SMA engine, propeller and instruments package, and to service them. As your readers know, SMA manufactures a 230HP 4-cyl O-305 diesel engine which is certified worldwide including by FAA. The Conversions of Cessna 182s Models M, N, P, Q, R and S have received an STC from FAA last winter. During this meeting, we signed a contract with FlyJetA to sell converted and refurbished 182s in the eastern half of the US. We are organizing ourselves to make the first deliveries in late 2007, and are inviting inquiries. We will be present at the Sun n’ Fun and Oshkosh air shows on the SMA booth to make contacts with the first interested buyers.'
'At this time, he says, a private pilot who wants to buy in the US and operate himself a diesel airplane still has very little choice on the US market of fully certified diesel airplanes, and will not have much more choice for some time. We think that what we offer is unbeatable now: A Cessna 182 SMA flies higher, faster and much longer than your regular 182. Its engine has 70% less moving parts than the regular O-470 or 540. It offers all the advantages of diesel: no more fear of running out of fuel, no more fire hazard, no more loss of engine because of ignition plugs, magnetos, circuitry…'
'Why do you say: No more risks of running out of fuel?'
'Because, in case of emergency, a 182 diesel flying close to best glide speed is using so little fuel that even your legal reserves can be extended to much farther than your nearest airport anywhere in the continental USA.'
'At what price are you offering your product?'
'Do note that we sell airplanes, not diesel conversions. We offer a standard package for a fully refurbished 182: Corrosion inspection, new paint, new leather interior, state of the art basic Garmin 430 GPS and KX 155 NavCom, refurbished Auto-Pilot and original equipment/instruments, and the SMA package meaning a brand new plane in front of the firewall including engine mount, turbocharged engine, propeller, heat exchangers, FADEC, vacuum pump, plus the new diesel engine and propeller instruments, all this for $250,000 plus sales tax.'
'When can we place an order?'
'Beginning at Sun n Fun next week we are inviting options to buy, with a fully refundable down payment if we fail to deliver on time. Business will operate on a first come first served basis. We are organizing to have a regular flow of used 182s, often with engine or propeller trouble or at TBO, available for sale. We will purchase them and manage our business to match planes for sale and available and buyers having signed on the dotted line. The time span between placing a firm order and taking off with your plane will be around 4 months, beginning on September 1st.'
'Can the buyer get financing and insurance?'
'Since the 182 is STCd, we can organize financing at usual terms prevailing today, and he will get insured just as easily as for a regular Cessna.'
'What will you do when there will be no more 182s available?'
'That will take quite some time. There are some 20,000 182s flying in the world, because it is simply the most reliable, practical, economical and effective true IFR four-seater on the market yet. They have a proven resale value which will increase with diesel. Do not forget we are in the US, with a lot of destinations accessible through a grass strip, on which your modern all-composite fixed-gear planes cannot land, but where a Cessna high-wing is ideal. A 182 diesel flies at close to 150 knots at 12,000 feet: To fly significantly faster than that, you need big bucks. However we will eventually offer other converted planes with other engines, but not before a few years: We want to concentrate now on providing an excellent product based on the 182.'
Leonard is a popular figure at Peachtree-Dekalb (PDK) Airport. His firm has been selling pilot gear, aircraft components and instruments, flying lessons, used airplanes, and operating single-engine planes at PDK since 1996. He is himself an experienced commercial pilot with over 3,000 hours flying time. He is also an experienced crop-duster and has ideas about what diesel will bring to that.
Glenn L. Stephenson, New York State Attorney at Law with special experience in industrial property, is the legal counsel and a stockholder in the new venture.
Andre R. Teissier-duCros, DieselAir Newsletter Publisher, is acting as Technical Consultant.
DACI address: Leonard R. Harris, CEO. DieselAir Aircraft Conversions, Inc. 1954 Airport Road, Suite 62, Atlanta, Georgia 30341. Tel: 678-641-7880.
For more information, go to DACI website by clicking here.

posted by Deena at 1:57 PM

News of April 02, 2007

Thielert Wins EASA Approval For SR22 Centurion 4.0 Installation

Aero-News has learned of some big developments from German enginemaker Thielert.

Not only has the company recently earned FAA certification for its Centurion 2.0 diesel powerplant to be installed in Cessna 172s... but last month, Thielert also won European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for its 310 hp, Centurion 4.0 V-8 diesel in the Cirrus SR22.Thielert let slip the Cirrus announcement in a release Monday, announcing a delay in releasing its audited 2006 financial results to investors.According to the company, the Centurion 4.0 was approved by EASA for installation in the SR22 on February 12. Moreover, Thielert expects certification of the 4.0 for the Cessna 206 in the "next days." Thielert states it has worked with Cirrus Design since mid-2005 to adapt the Centurion 4.0 to the SR-series. The STC is valid for all European SR22s. According to Thielert, the 4.0-liter diesel V8 generates 310 bhp, and provides 698 ft.lb of torque to the propeller. The engine sports single- lever throttle control, and a fully electronic engine and propeller management system (FADEC). Common rail technology, direct injection, turbo charging, liquid cooling and reduction gearing round out the engine's advanced features.

Type-certified by EASA in November 2004, the Jet-A-burning Centurion 4.0 is comparable to a Continental TSIO-550-B in horsepower (350) and torque (680 lb/ft), but offers considerably better fuel economy.While Cirrus remains mum on any plans to offer a diesel in its aircraft, it isn't tough to see the significance here. After all... the mere possibility of a future diesel engine option in the world's best-selling GA aircraft would go a long way towards validating the technology. (AeroNews.net 3/27/07)

posted by Deena at 11:07 PM

News of April 01, 2007

SMA Engines Expands Presence in USA Diesel-Engine Market

SMA has delivered 12 of its 230-horsepower SR305-230 direct-drive diesel engine to two installation centers in North America and appointed Luc Heugas as senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Heugas announced that there are now 31 SMA diesel-engine airplanes flying at locations around the world. SMA's four-cylinder engine is approved as a firewall-forward kit for late-model Cessna 182 aircraft. Applications have been submitted to expand the approved model list to include 182N and 182P models.

Heugas cited outstanding economy, reduced maintenance costs, single-lever FADEC engine control, reduced part number count, and approval for full-power operation as reasons to install the engine. During a cross-ocean flight from Paris to Oshkosh last summer, fuel costs for the SMA 182 were 31 percent less than fuel costs for the avgas-fueled Cherokee 180 that accompanied the 182. Heugas noted that SMA is looking for companies to develop supplemental type certificates (STCs) for engine installations. Three distributors for SMA are now in place - one each in California, Texas, and Florida. "This is really, really big for us," said Luc Heugas, SMA's vice president of sales and marketing. "We have three distributors now in the US; we plan to have six before AirVenture in July of 2007."

"We are certain that engines will be assembled in the United States," said Heugas. The present price for the full firewall-forward engine and propeller kit for STCed 182 installations is $80,000 to $85,000. (By GA News 3/27/07)

posted by Deena at 9:14 PM

Thielert Diesels STC’d In Many Cessna 172s

On March 13 the FAA granted Supplementary Type Certification to installation of Thielert Centurion 2.0-liter diesel engines in Cessna 172 F through S models and Cessna F 172 F through P models, according to a news release. Thielert founder Frank Thielert said the STC not only opens the market for his engines to the most numerous of all aircraft in the biggest aviation market on earth, it also smoothes the way for similar approvals all over the world. “The FAA certifications are of particular importance on the world aviation market, since they are acknowledged by most countries in Africa and Asia without further intensive testing,” the news release said. Asia and Africa are seen as big potential markets because Avgas is scare there, while the jet fuel that powers the Thielerts is generally available. The marketing push in the U.S. will be based on the lower operating costs of the diesels, which Thielert said should be particularly attractive to flight schools operating 172s. (AVWebFlash 3/13/07)

posted by Deena at 9:08 PM

Apex Aircraft and the Robin Ecoflyer.

Apex Aircraft is a holding company which recently acquired the assets of several well known French manufacturers of light aircraft: Robin, Mudry and Alpha. See http://www.apex-aircraft.com. The Avions Pierre Robin family finds its origins in the design of the famous Jodel light planes which originated in the fifties, and has a strong presence on the European market. The Robin airplanes go from 100 to 180 HP and 2 to 4 seats. Apex recently introduced the Robin Ecoflyer which is equipped with the Thielert Centurion 135 HP. Its success is guaranteed in Europe where it brings the advantage of diesel fuel consumption plus the low price of JetA: roughly 50% of Avgaz price.

posted by Deena at 8:41 PM

Embry-Riddle Pushes Ahead Order For 10 DA42s

The campus takes delivery of 10 new Diamond DA42 Twin Star aircraft in the Summer and Fall semesters, 2007. The university’s acquisition of the planes from Diamond Aircraft had been in the planning stage, but moved onto the fast track after a Christmas Day tornado destroyed most of the campus’s training fleet."The DA42 Twin Star will give Embry-Riddle a complete glass-cockpit fleet, starting with our single-engine aircraft and culminating with our Canadair regional jet simulator," said Tim Brady, dean of the College of Aviation at the university’s Daytona Beach campus. "We call it the 'Embry-Riddle Edge.'"

With its Garmin G1000 glass cockpit, the DA42 qualifies as a technically advanced aircraft as per the FAA -- which developed the designation with help from faculty in Embry-Riddle's aeronautical science program."We are pleased that Embry-Riddle has selected Diamond DA42 aircraft for its multi-engine training," said Chuck Glass, Diamond Aircraft’s director of fleet sales. "This state-of-the-art equipment will fit well with the university’s world-class professional flight training programs."In addition to the G1000, Embry-Riddle students will also find single-lever power controls for the engine, which offers jet-like thrust control, as well as an autopilot.Students may also get a bit of the "big airliner" feel while fueling the plane on the ramp... as the diesel-powered twin burns the same Jet-A1 fuel used by airliners, which Embry-Riddle says makes the DA42 twice as efficient as comparable dual-engine airplanes. (AeroNews.net 3/17/07)

posted by Deena at 12:09 PM

What will be operating costs with diesel?

A question from reader: Thanks for all of the great information you provide on this site. I am particularly interested in any operating cost information you might have regarding the Centurion 4.0. I realize it is not FAA certified yet but I d be interested in hearing any operating cost projections for the 4.0 or even about Centurion 1.7 operating costs as a proxy. Thanks again!
Answer: No data is available yet on proven operating costs. You can however simulate them quite easily using what is known of conversion costs as a capital expenditure, and fuel consumption based on a specific consumption of 0.32 Lbs/HP-hour. Also remember that your cost/Lb. of cargo-NM is affected by two facts:
If you fly with full fuel, Jetfuel being more dense by about 10%, you fly much longer but with a slightly reduced payload,
If you fly with partial fuel, with the fuel needed for the leg, you fly same legs but your payload is increased.
Also take into account that your useful range with reserves is affected positively because, in case of end of flight emergency such as ceiling under minimals at both destination and alternate, you can fly at maximal economy. This with diesel generally means 1.6G/h per 100 HP of nominal power. Therefore you need, say, for reserves of one hour, much less reserves in Gallons than expected with a gasoline engine.
This means that you can fly missions you could not address with an Avgaz plane, which drastically increases the revenue/year your plane can generate.

posted by Deena at 11:37 AM

A fleet of DA 42 for Australian Flight Academy

Flight Training Adelaide (FTA), an Australian College in South Australia, has ferried the first four of seven ordered DA42 Twin Star equipped with each two Centurion kerosene piston aircraft engines built by Thielert Aircraft Engines. The crew of several pilots arrived on February 15, 2007 in Adelaide after a smooth ferry flight from Austria to Australia. Again, the Centurion engines were able to demonstrate their reliability and safety. The DA42 was also used for some trips over the Atlantic Ocean and a flight around the world. FTA is a well-reputed flight school and an authorized service center for Centurion engines. Diamond Aircraft Industries is the third largest manufacturer of fixed-wing aircraft for general aviation. Diamond was able to deliver 33 percent more aircraft in 2006 than in the previous year. One reason for Diamonds above average growth is the best selling models equipped with Centurion engines. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association has reported a growth of 11.6 percent for the total market.

posted by Deena at 7:32 AM

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Mission Statement

Every month: news, facts, and comments on the coming revolution for piston-engines aircrafts between 130 and 400 HP: Retrofitting a diesel engine to run on Jetfuel or Kerosene, reduce Gallons/Hour by some 30%, eliminate ignition systems (magnetos, spark plugs) and their problems, eliminate mixture control, increase TBO to 2,400-3,000 hours, increase performance between 6,000 and 12,500 ft., and drastically reduce Operating Costs.

The letter is intended for piston engines aircraft owners, manufacturers, fleet operators and FBOs, re-manufacturers of engines for these aircrafts, manufacturers of engine components and ancillaries, and all professionals acting in decisions of engine exchange or refitting at TBO, in North and South America, Pacific Rim, African continent, and all parts of the world were Avgas, Mogas, Kerosene and Jetfuel are available.

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The DieselAir Newsletter is a confidential publication available only as printed material sent by mail (airmail for overseas), to fully identified individuals or businesses involved in General Aviation. Forums and online content may be printed at discretion of the publisher.