Turbo Diesel Piston Engine Burns Jet-A
FAA has issued Type Certificate E00081EN for Diamond
Aircraft's proprietary Austro Engine AE300. The jet-fuel burning
170 hp turbo-diesel piston engine represents a new generation of
aviation powerplants, offering pilot workload reducing single lever
thrust control, electronic engine management and monitoring, and
superb fuel efficiency, with independence from leaded fuels.
The engine, developed by Austro Engine in collaboration with MB
Technology GmbH (Mercedes Benz) and Bosch General Aviation
Technology GmbH, features the very latest in high pressure common
rail fuel injection technology, offering even better specific fuel
consumption than the first generation turbo-diesel engines
originally used by Diamond.
With more than 2,000,000 accumulated flight hours in the
turbo-diesel powered Diamond Aircraft fleet, Diamond is the most
experienced airplane manufacturer with regard to turbo-diesel
piston engine operation. This experience has benefitted the
development of the Austro Engine, with features such as a FADEC
controlled actuator driving a conventional constant speed propeller
governor, a high mounted turbocharger to permit gravity oil return,
a torsional vibration absorber in place of a wearing clutch, robust
military style electrical harnesses and connectors, heavy duty
reduction gearbox, 4-point engine mount and countless detail
features to ensure reliability, and reduced maintenance
costs.
The engine produces 170 hp and is capable of producing 100% power
at 11,800' density altitude, offering significantly improved
performance over the previously installed TAE 135 hp engine.
Diamond is exhibiting the AE300 powered twin DA42 NG at AirVenture
2009. The display aircraft flew from Diamond's Austrian facility,
averaging a fuel burn of only 5.6 gph per engine, at 65% power and
155 ktas at FL140.
The combination of low fuel burn, independence from leaded fuel
and low noise emission, makes the AE300 the most environmentally
friendly piston engine available. The ability to operate on
globally available Jet-fuel makes the AE300 particularly suitable
for strategic applications and markets where AVGAS 100LL is either
very expensive or has limited availability.
The FAA certification of the AE300 paves the way for FAA
validation of the EASA Type Certificate for the DA42 NG. FAA
validation is expected late Q3, 2009. Installation of the new AE300
engines in earlier DA42-tdi aircraft is possible and available from
Diamond Aircraft.