Societe de Motorisations Aeronautiques (SMA) has pushed back certification of its MR200 diesel powerplant by about five months to enhance the engine's take-off power from 110kW (150hp) to 170kW.
"We want to give the engine extra power for take-off to increase the aircraft's performance," says Luc Pelon, SMA's vice-president, sales and marketing.
"European certification is now targeted for November instead of June and US [Federal Aviation Administration] approval is planned for the end of 2000," he says.
The four-cylinder engine, a joint venture between French light aircraft manufacturer Socata and engine developer Renault Sport, will cover the 140kW to 185kW engine range.
The improved engine will replace two of SMA's proposed engines, the MR180 and the MR250. The larger MR300 engine programme will be kick-started next year and is lined up for certification in 2002.
The MR200 has chalked up more than 250h of flight testing on a Socata TB20 Trinidad and is undergoing bench testing at Socata's Tarbes base.
Pelon says that a great deal of interest has been expressed in the engine, although he adds that "we do not plan to take orders until early in the new year".
SMA's diesel engines will power Socata's Morane range of single-engined aircraft and will be targeted at other types, including the Textron Lycoming-powered Britten-Norman Islander twin.
The engine will also be pitched against a range of Textron Lycoming and Teledyne Continental piston engines.
"We expect to take a substantial portion of the retrofit and new piston-engined market over the next 10 years," says Pelon.
Source: Flight International
