Cessna Puts Diesel Airplanes on Hold
Written by Administrator
Monday, 12 May 2008 06:01
Cessna will not deliver its diesel powered C172TD airplanes for now. The decision is a result of the recent bankruptcy of German-based Thilert Aircraft Engines, who builds the airplane's power plant.
“At this point we have decided that we will not deliver 172TD aircraft during 2008, and we have informed our customers accordingly,” the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association's Web site, AOPA.org, quotes a Cessna spokesman. More then 100 diesel airplanes are on order with the Wichita, Kan.-based aircraft manufacturer.
Many Cessna 172 airplanes are already equipped with Thielert Centurion power plants, installed as third-party retrofits. The C172TD is the first Cessna airplane to have a factory-installed diesel engine.
Thielert's diesel engines run on Jet-A fuel, which on average is cheaper and more common in the world than 100LL Avgas, used by traditional general aviation engines. The power plant is controled by a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). A single digital power lever replaces the traditional throttle, mixture and propeller controls. The FADEC computer will calculate the exact engine control settings to keep the power the pilot selected. As a result, fuel consumption is very efficient and reduces engine wear. A diesel-powered C172 consumes substantially less fuel than a brand-new C172SP. It is vibration free and much quieter than conventional Lycoming engines.
Centurion engines are also used in Piper and Diamond aircraft.
| Next > |
|---|