By Jeffrey Decker at Oshkosh
German diesel manufacturer Thielert Aircraft Engines has broken into the US flying school market, with a deal to re-engine 55 Cessna 172s operated by American Flyers. The first aircraft to be converted to Thielert's Centurion 1.7 jet-fuel piston engine was displayed at Oshkosh.
Thielert has already sold its jet-fuel engines to flight schools in Europe, Africa and China, but the sale to the largest flying training provider in North America is a critical breakthrough into the US market. The modern diesel-cycle engines offer substantial fuel savings over existing avgas-fuelled powerplants.
The company has also received US supplemental type certification for the Centurion 1.7 in the Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee. US approval on the -140, -150, -151, -160 and -180 models is pending and Thielert sees a North American market to re-engine 1,000 PA-28-series aircraft a year, mainly for flying schools.
US certification on the Diamond DA40 and Robin DR400 is expected to be received by year-end, with approval of the more powerful Centurion 4.0 planned for next year on the Cessna 206, 340, 414 and 421.
Source: Flight International
