Thu, Nov 09, 2006
Van Bortel Installs Centurion 1.7 In New C-172s
Thielert announced
today at AOPA Expo 2006 that Arlington, TX-based Van Bortel
Aircraft will market Centurion 1.7 diesel-equipped brand-new
Cessna 172 Skyhawks. Van Bortel will replace the conventional
engines with Cessna's support.
Thielert has been developing its line of aviation diesels
for several years. Although the company markets it's Centurion 1.7
as a diesel, it actually burns Jet A -- which happens to be both
cheaper and more readily available world-wide than avgas. Equipped
with the latest technology such a single lever control, the engine
also features a constant speed propeller, full authority digital
engine control (FADEC) as well as a turbo charger for improved
performance at high altitudes.
"We are proud of our cooperation with the world's largest Cessna
reseller," says Frank Thielert, Managing director of Thielert
Aircraft Engines GmbH. "The installation of our Centurion engine in
brand-new Cessna Skyhawks presents buyers with yet another chance
to switch over to the new generation of diesel-powered
aircraft."
Van Bortel has already put the first retrofitted Skyhawks into
operation and uses them for demo flights. "We are amazed at how
little fuel the Centurion engines use compared to the 180-bhp avgas
engines," explains company president Howard G. van Bortel. "We
are highly impressed by the quality and engineering of both the
Centurion engine and the retrofit kits. Up to now no Skyhawk has
been able to climb to 12,000 feet so quickly."
Jasper M. Wolffson, Head of Sales and Service at Thielert, is
also very enthusiastic about the cooperation saying, "The
cooperation with Van Bortel Aircraft is opening up new sales
channels for Thielert as well as further opportunities in the
general aviation market."
In addition to considerable fuel savings, the Centurion engines
offer a host of other technical benefits:
- Qualitative mixture control: Only the desired amount of fuel is
injected - the engine always operates at the optimal mixture. By
design, a diesel engine cannot be destroyed by lean run
- Self Sparking: No danger of uncontrolled detonation, since fuel
is not introduced until the optimal moment of combustion
- Jet fuel piston engines are extremely robust. As a result of
their combustion process, the peak combustion chamber pressure is
extremely high event at partial load. As opposed to a gasoline
engine, the jet fuel engine is designed for continuous high stress,
making it suitable for aviation applications
Thielert recently purchased Superior Engine Parts here in the US
in an effort to establish a marketing and distribution network
here. As ANN reported, the company
already has an STC for installing the Centurion 1.7 in the C-172
airframe. It also has a deal with American Flyers to retrofit some
of its C-172s used for flight training with Thielerts. American
Flyers is using those planes at its Pompano Beach facility. Epic
aviation of New Smyrna Beach, FL has been performing those
retrofits.
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