New Powerplants Developed For The DA50 Magnum And "Future Small Aircraft"

Two of Austria’s key engine development companies, Austro Engine and Steyr Motors, signed a cooperation agreement Wednesday to develop a 280 hp 6 cylinder diesel aircraft engine. This development will be based on the Steyr Monoblock Motor M1, featuring integral crankcase and cylinder head, which has proven its robustness in demanding worldwide marine and special vehicle applications.

Austro Engine is developing this engine for two important Diamond Aircraft development projects, the DA50 Magnum (single engine 5 seat private aircraft) and the FSA (Future Small Aircraft) twin engine private and utility aircraft. Development, certification and production of these programs will take place at Diamond’s Wiener Neustadt facility. This program launch marks yet another milestone on the way to leadership in the area of multi-spec Jet-fuel aviation piston powerplants.

For Steyr Motors, this cooperation is further validation of the M1 concept whose hallmarks are favorable power to weight ratio, operational safety, economy and minimized environmental impact.

"Following our successes in the marine and special vehicle sectors, we are especially pleased that our M1 concept will now also find applications in aviation," said Dr. Rudolf Streicher, Steyr Motors’ shareholder representative. "With Austro Engine, we have gained an especially competent and innovative Partner.”   

Diamond DA50

With the expansion of our product line, Austro Engine will further solidify its position as a producer of powerful, fuel efficient and environmentally responsible aviation piston powerplants. The co-operation with Steyr is not only relevant to our Austrian operation, but a further step in our company becoming a market and technology leader,” said Diamond Aircraft CEO Christian Dries.

FMI: www.steyr-motors.com, www.diamond-air.at www.austroengine.at