DeltaHawk piston engines

Carbureted engines in automobiles went away in the 1990s, to be replaced by fuel injection, and electric motors are coming on strong.

Meanwhile, general aviation engines still use 1950s engine technology in their piston engines.

Slowly but surely, however, the landscape here is changing as well. DeltaHawk Engines of Racine, Wisconsin, got FAA certification in May for its piston engine that can burn Jet A. FAA certification means the company can now sell the engine to individual aircraft owners as well as manufacturers.

What’s special about the new engine, dubbed the DHK180? DeltaHawk says it is smaller and lighter than a standard piston engine, has turbocharging and supercharging, fuel injection, and 40 percent fewer moving parts than other engines in its category. It is said to be 40 percent more fuel efficient than engines burning avgas. As mentioned, it runs on Jet A, but will also be able to burn “sustainable aviation jet fuels,” DeltaHawk said. Sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, has lower carbon emissions compared to traditional jet fuel. Unfortunately, it is more expensive to make, and production is not yet widespread.

But when SAF takes off, so to speak, aircraft will be able to use the product seamlessly—and so will airplanes with DeltaHawk engines.

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