Frank Thielert’s mission to convert the general aviation world to jet fuel piston engines is gathering pace. At ILA, his Thielert Aircraft Engines launched a third model – the 230hp (170kW) Centurion 3.2, which will fit between its established 135hp Centurion 1.7 and the 350hp 4.0, which goes into production this year.
The 3.2 – aimed at mid-sized piston aircraft such as the Cessna 182 – is due to fly in late 2007, with series production in 2008.
The Hamburg-based company is also launching a North American sales offensive after winning supplemental type certification to retrofit its 4.0 engine into Cessna’s largest pistons, the 206 and 414, and the Cirrus Design SR22, of which there is a total worldwide fleet of more than 18,000 aircraft. The company also hopes to secure a deal with at least one manufacturer to supply the 4.0 as original equipment. The only aircraft Thielert engines are fitted to new are the 1.7-powered Diamond DA40 and DA42.
Although Thielert has a large US defence business, including supplying the engine for the General Atomics Warrior, the company has made little impression on the US general aviation market. Earlier this year it bought Dallas-based Superior Air Parts – which makes parts manufacturer approval (PMA) components for Thielert’s competitors’ engines – and chief executive Frank Thielert now believes the time is right for a push there.
“We wanted to wait until we had 100,000 flight hours in Europe,” he says. “Now we are at 169,000. We wanted the strength to be able to go into the USA, with training centres and a support network. Superior gives us that visibility.”
Source: Flight International
