Airframe Manufacturers Announce Lycoming-Powered Fleet Sales

In its 80th year of manufacturing piston aircraft engines, Lycoming is doing a bit of bragging about their being the powerplant of choice for a growing number of flight school and service fleets all over the world. In recent months, airframe manufacturers that include the likes of Cessna Aircraft of Wichita, Kan., Lancair International of Redmond, Wash., and Diamond Aircraft of London, Ontario have announced the sale of Lycoming-powered fleets to schools including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Florida, The US Air Force Academy in Colorado, Massey University in New Zealand, the Colombian Air Force Training Institute, Bogotà, Colombia, and the CAE Global Academy based in India.

"Our products, innovation and services make us an attractive solution for airframe manufacturers," says Ian Walsh, Lycoming senior vice president and general manager. "Our worldwide support network of distributors and service centers makes us unique in piston aircraft engine manufacturing; fleet buyers see that as a positive."

For example, Embry-Riddle purchased 10 Diamond DA42 L360 twin-engine aircraft, equipped with two counter-rotating Lycoming IO-360 engines. Lycoming earned certification for the left-hand turning version of the engine in just nine months after Diamond's original choice of engine manufacturers filed for bankruptcy. This allowed Diamond to keep the aircraft in production.

To open its exhibition at the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., in April, Cessna announced two fleet orders. The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) ordered 19 additional new Cessna 182T Skylanes, equipped with Lycoming IO-540s, and the University of North Dakota (UND) ordered 13 additional new Cessna 172S Skyhawks, equipped with the Lycoming IO-360s. The UND fleet will be used for flight training at the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.

Lastly, Lancair has announced the sale of 25 modified Legacy FG aircraft, known as the Synergy, to be used for primary flight training of Colombian Air Force Pilots. The Synergy sports the newly certified 210-horsepower Lycoming IO-390 four-cylinder engine. Lancair also holds the distinction of being the final installation and test partner for Lycoming's new iE2 integrated electronic engine, which it will install in its Evolution airframe.

"As we celebrate our 80th year of manufacturing piston aircraft engines, our solutions remain the power of choice for so many airframe manufacturers and fleet buyers," says Todd Stoner, Lycoming vice president of sales and marketing. "We look forward to providing continued service to both for many years to come."

FMI: www.lycoming.com, www.textron.com