Digital controls and water cooling are the principal features of two new engines developed by Austria’s Rotax, but promoted only in the USA by new company Aircraft Engine Services (AES).
After a one-year delay, the V220 and V300T made their debut and only appearance of 2005 last week at AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The world’s largest aviation gathering offered a showcase for what the company hopes will become the trendsetter in aircraft engines.
So far the V330T, a 300hp (225kW) turbocharged V6, has attracted more attention than the smaller 220hp V220, says David Medina, lead integration engineer for Titusville, Florida-based AES. The 225kg (495lb) engine has accumulated 600 hours of flight testing.
The V-series engines are designed to be quieter than existing piston powerplants, with lower propeller tip speeds. “It has a 3:1 reduction gearbox, which means that the prop is at 2,000rpm and the engine is at 6,000rpm with wide-open throttle,” says Medina.
Electronic engine management provides single-lever control, and allows use of unleaded fuel. “Two independent engine control units control the spark, ignition timing, dual injection and also the prop,” says Medina. “It also controls the turbo, so you don’t have to worry about overboost.”
The engine will become available once an unnamed major aircraft manufacturer receives US certification next year. “Once we’re comfortable with the number of service centres that are trained on our engine, we’ll start expanding to other markets,” says Medina.
The next market to be addressed will be kitplanes, after which the engines will be made available for retrofit applications. Release will be limited to the USA at first, Medina says.
Source: Flight International
