STC Allows Vantage Engine Replacement In Cessna 172s

Superior Air Parts has entered into an agreement with Tulsa-based Christiansen Aviation to obtain an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) that will allow Superior’s FAA-certified 180-horsepower Vantage Engine to be used on Cessna 172 aircraft.

“We believe that whether it’s a private owner or a flight school, Skyhawk owner/operators today are looking for a true value alternative to the standard engine overhaul,” said Scott Hayes, V.P. Sales and Marketing for Superior Air Parts. “By enabling Skyhawk owners to install a brand new engine for the same price as a rebuilt, the Superior Skyhawk SV powered by the Vantage Engine STC will give them that option and more.”

Hayes also stressed that another differentiator between the Vantage Engine and a rebuilt engine is the fact that the Vantage Engine is manufactured with 100% factory new parts. That not only eliminates any ongoing reliability questions, it also helps control the cost.

“When you get into rebuilding an engine there are always unknowns that inevitably drive the final price up,” he said. “That won’t happen with our Vantage Engine STC. The price we quote for the engine is the price the customer pays.”

Of course, Keith Chatten, Superior’s executive VP and General Manager, expects there to be skepticism in the industry.

“The first question everyone will ask is how can we offer a brand new, FAA certified 180-horsepower engine for nearly the same price as an overhauled engine?” Chatten said. “The answer is simply, it costs us less to build our brand new engines than it costs a shop to rebuild the engine with ‘factory’ parts.”

“For the past three and a half years we have put every part of our operation under the microscope and scrutinized every process from product design through vendor audits to quality assurance, production and delivery,” he said. “Today, Superior’s production process is as lean an operation as you will find. If it doesn’t add true value, it’s not staying in the process stream.”

Hayes said that the first Vantage Engine for the Skyhawk STC has been assembled at Superior’s Coppell, TX engine build facility and is awaiting final inspection by the FAA.

“Once that’s all done we’ll take it to Christiansen Aviation in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for installation on one of their 172s. Bill Christiansen operates a large fleet of Skyhawks and he has been instrumental in helping us with the FAA STC process,” he said. “Bill is one of the owners who is very excited to have a better solution to rebuilding his engines.”

“Right now we’re looking to deliver a brand new Vantage Engine for less than $25,000 and that includes the use of the STC and a 24-month or to TBO (whichever comes first) warranty,” Hayes stated. “In addition to Bill Christiansen, we have had discussions with a few other Skyhawk fleet operators and their response has been very encouraging.”

The company says the Superior Vantage Engine "represents a new-generation of four-cylinder engine capabilities and technologies. And it gives Skyhawk owners a truly better value alternative to installing a rebuilt engine on their aircraft."

The Skyhawk SV powered by the Vantage Engine mock-up is on display during Oshkosh 2014 at the Superior Air Parts booth.

(Images provided by Superior Air Parts)

FMI: www.superiorairparts.com