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Teledyne Continental celebrates 100th anniversary
Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) President and CEO Bryan Lewis took to the podium at AeroShell square Monday morning and highlighted the company's 100 years in business. The company built its first airplane engine in 1929. TCM has been at the forefront of aviation engine development and is forming the Alpha Products and Services within the company to boost three areas — lean manufacturing, Internet-based communication systems, and full authority digital engine controls (FADEC). Lewis predicted that implementation of these steps would create higher TBO numbers since advanced data-gathering systems would permit engine usage that depends on actual engine condition instead of a fixed TBO number.
 Superior Air Parts announces superior cylinder warranty
Timothy T. Archer, president and CEO of Superior Air Parts, announced that every Superior Millennium cylinder sold after this date will be covered by a three-year or 500-hour (whichever comes first) money-back guarantee. Archer went on to say that this "industry leading warranty" is due to the quality and consistency that Superior is able to achieve through Thielert's state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities. Superior is now a subsidiary of Thielert.
 American Flyers inks deal for 55 Thielert engines
Frank Thielert, managing director of Thielert Aircraft Engine GmbH, announced that a deal had been signed to supply 55 Centurion 1.7 engines to American Flyers for installation in the company's fleet of Cessna 172 aircraft. "With the Centurion engines, American Flyers is deliberately opting for a fuel-efficient and easy-to-operate diesel engine that runs on jet fuel," said Thielert. The first U.S. Cessna 172 equipped with a Centurion engine was on display at AirVenture.
Centurion engine gets European approval for more Piper models
Supplemental type certificates (STCs) have been approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the installation of Thielert Centurion 1.7 diesel engines in Piper PA-28-140, -150, -180, and -151 models. There are already approvals for Piper PA-28-161 models. EASA approval eases the steps for FAA approval. There's no word on when the kits will be granted FAA approval. The engines are part of a firewall forward kit that includes the engine, all accessories, a new propeller, engine mount, and installation labor for about $50,000. The 350-horsepower Thielert Centurion 4.0 diesel engine kits are being developed for Cessna twins and singles. Thielert announces plans to build a 230-hp diesel
Thielert announced plans to build a 230-horsepower diesel aircraft engine. The engine will be called the Centurion 3.2 and, like the other engines in the Thielert line, will be turbocharged and liquid-cooled, and will be controlled by a single lever FADEC system. Development of the Centurion 3.2 will take place over the next 30 months with the maiden flight expected in mid-2007. Production is expected to start in 2008. New aircraft engine project progresses
 Officials for Aircraft Engine Services, the Austrian company building the V300T aircraft engine, say certification is progressing. The officials were not willing to say which aircraft manufacturer will be the launch customer, but they say that the details will be coming later this fall. The engine, which will burn avgas or autogas (including autogas with up to 10 percent ethanol), has been undergoing rigorous certification testing. Lightning tests have subjected the engine to 200,000 amps while fire tests have exposed the engine to temperatures of 1,100 degrees Celsius. The engines will be manufactured by Rotax, which currently produces 1,250 engines a day for its various markets, allowing the aircraft engine production to enjoy the latest in engine manufacturing techniques and efficiencies. The aircraft engine will have a 2,000-hour TBO. The fully configured V300T complete with a 130-amp alternator, 70-amp alternator, and air conditioning compressor weighs 570 pounds, slightly less than a comparable conventional engine. For more details on the project, see "First Impression: A big V-6 from Rotax is flying in Florida" and "Engine Market: Improving Engine Technologies" from AOPA Pilot. SMA gets FAA nod for diesel installation on Cessna 182s
 Luc Pelon, chairman and CEO of SMA, a division of the SAFRAN group, invited media representatives to join him and his staff in a glass of champagne to celebrate the FAA granting a supplemental type certificate (STC) for the installation of the SMA SR305-230 diesel-fueled engine in some Cessna 182 models. Pelon said the STC was the first diesel-fuel engine STC granted by the FAA. The STC was carried through by Tule River Aero of Porterville, California. Pelon said work by Aero Diesel Propulsion of Vero Beach, Florida, is in progress for an STC to install the engine on Piper Dakotas. Plans are in place to retrofit the engine on Piper Seneca II and Aztec twin-engine airplanes. Lycoming's customized engine program takes off
Lycoming introduced a new concept in April — building customized engines for experimental and kitplane builders through a program titled Thunderbolt Engines. This program gives engine buyers options that have not been available from Lycoming in the past. These options include the type of fuel system and ignition system the buyer wants as well as choices about enhancements such as component balancing, increased compression ratios, tuned induction systems, and turbocharging. The most powerful six-cylinder normally aspirated engine ever in the line is going in airshow ace Mike Goulian's Extra 300SHP. The engine is an aerobatic version of its fuel-injected 580 engine. The designation is AEIO-580. Lycoming joins non-certified engine providers with introduction of Thunderbolt engine program. Thunderbolt Engines are built at Lycoming's new Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Thunderbolt engines are not approved for installation in certified aircraft. EASA approves 315-hp IO-580
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) granted approval for Lycoming's IO-580-B1A, a fuel-injected six-cylinder engine that generates 315 horsepower at 2,700 rpm. This engine is a stroked version of the Lycoming's venerable and durable IO-540 engine. The IO-580 is also FAA-approved and has been selected by Aerodyme, an airplane modification center, as the engine of choice to replace the original 260-hp IO-540 in Commander 114s. Aerodyme has obtained a supplemental type certificate (STC) to cover the upgrade. ECI Stroker engine: more power, less weight
 Engine Components Inc. (ECI) of San Antonio, Texas, showed off its IOX-340 Stroker KitEngine. This engine, which is based on the 150- and 160-horsepower O-320, features a quarter inch longer stroke, tapered-fin barrel parallel valve cylinders, venturi intake seats for better airflow into the combustion chamber, a thicker crankshaft flange, flow-matched cylinder heads, and a 9.0:1 compression ratio. According to ECI these features combine to produce more power than a standard 180-horsepower O-360 engine. The Stroker also features a magnesium oil sump and intake plenum assembly, which reduce the engine weight by 20 pounds. Other new ECI products incorporated on the Stroker engine are its mechanical fuel-injection system and the Cold Air induction system. The Stroker engine is not approved for installation on certified aircraft. More products available from ECI
Engine Components Inc. (ECI) has greatly expanded its list of ECI Experimental Products (EXP). Titan EXP parts include tapered-fin barrel parallel-valve cylinders, which reduce weight without compromising cylinder cooling; its Cold Air induction plenum, which replaces the original-style plenum in which induction air passages were routed through the oil sump. While the original-style design would cut down on carburetor icing, it also heated the induction air charge, lessening air density. The EXP Cold Air plenum when combined with the new magnesium sump assembly does not decrease the air charge density. ECI also introduced the Titan fuel injection system (FIS), a totally mechanical fuel injection system. This system consists of an engine-driven mechanical fuel pump/vapor separator, a throttle body-type fuel control unit, distribution manifold (spider), and associated lines and hoses. This system is very similar to the Teledyne Continental fuel injection system that has been the standard on TCM engines for more than 40 years. ECI gets approval to re-engineer small-bore engines
Engine Components Inc. (ECI) has obtained an FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) to re-engineer an extensive list of the Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) small-bore cylinders. ECI elected to obtain the STC because it permits more extensive changes than their current repair station certificate permitted. ECI felt that changes such as the installation of Ni-resist exhaust valve guides and chrome-plated valve stems would improve reliability. Other changes include the installation of a Roto-coil on exhaust valve stems. These devices cause the valve to rotate slightly during each cycle. This rotating action scrubs the seat/valve surfaces, which helps prevent lead build up. Three springs are used in each valve instead of the original two-spring configuration. Finally, Teflon buttons are installed on the end of each rocker arm shaft, which prevents the rocker shaft from wearing through the rocker arm covers. Back to AirVenture Main Page |
