Kate Sarsfield/LONDON
Societe de Motorisations Aeronautiques (SMA) is aiming for European certification of its 150kW (200hp) MR200 diesel engine in the second quarter of next year, followed closely by US certification. SMA is also negotiating with manufacturers to re-engine their aircraft.
The four-cylinder engine, a joint venture between French light aircraft manufacturer Socata and engine developer Renault Sport, is undergoing certification flight testing on a Socata TB20 Trinidad from the aircraft manufacturer's Tarbes base.
The Morane Renault engine family will be available in four versions: the 134kW MR180, which is lined up for certification in the second quarter of next year; and the MR250 and the MR300, due for certification in the first and second quarters of 2001, respectively.
The aircraft will power Socata's range of single-engined aircraft and will be targeted at other aircraft types, including the Textron Lycoming-powered Britten-Norman Islander twin.
"Avgas is disappearing," says SMA project manager Luc Pelon. "People need to fly faster and longer at lower operating costs, and this engine will do all these things for about the same price as a gasolene engine."
SMA forecasts production of about 300 units in its first year, rising to 1,000 in its second and up to 10,000 engines a year within 10 years. "In 1998 alone, 1,524 gasolene engines were sold internationally and more than 280,000 units are flying across the world," says Pelon. "Of these, around 60% will be retrofitted over the next 10 years," he adds.
The "first series" of about 30 units will be produced at the company's Paris base, but SMA wants to transfer production and assembly to another location.
"We have had a great deal of interest from companies all over the world, and hope to reach a decision soon," says Pelon.
Source: Flight International
