Upgrade Program Also Established For Centurion 1.7 Owners
Centurion has received a European STC for the installation of
the 155 HP Centurion 2.0s kerosene piston aircraft engine in the
Cessna 172. On May 21, 2010, the EASA issued the STC to the German
company based in Saxony, which has been operating as the subsequent
sales company to the insolvent Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH for
one year.
With Cessna models 172 F to S now certified, Centurion is
proceeding with the certification of the 155 HP versions of
the Robin DR400 Ecoflyer and Diamond DA40 TDI.
The Centurion 2.0s is the more powerful version of the well
established Centurion 2.0 with its proven fuel efficiency. With an
identical weight, it generates additional 20 HP. "Everyone who was
impressed by the flight performance of the Cessna 172 with the
Centurion 2.0 will be enthusiastic about the Centurion 2.0s," says
Jasper M. Wolffson, CEO at Centurion.
The Centurion engine brings FADEC technology to the 172, with
fully electronic engine and propeller control system with
single-lever control. The first demo flights of the
Centurion-Cessna at clubs and fly-ins have been met with a positive
response in Germany and Denmark, and additional demos during the
season are planned in the Czech Republic, France, and England.
The first retrofitted customer aircraft will go to the Isle of
Wight, England and Switzerland. Cessna 172 aircraft which have been
retrofitted with Centurion engines can also be operated in
countries with low avgas availability. This summer, the first
Cessnas will be retrofitted with Centurion 2.0s for Ethiopia.
The Robin certification process by Finch Aviation is at an
advanced stage and only requires final measurement flights. It will
then enter series production as the Robin Ecoflyer DR400 2.0s. The
Centurion 2.0s kerosene engine, in combination with the traditional
and proven wooden design of the DR400, results in an aircraft with
excellent flight characteristics. The scope of the STC includes the
Robin DR400 RP, 120D, 140B, 180R and 200R series. The Centurion
2.0s will initially be installed in new aircraft.
For existing customers, Centurion has established an upgrade
program for its piston aircraft engine Centurion 1.7. Owners of
aircraft equipped with this engine can take advantage of a rebate
offer for unused flight hours if they choose to upgrade to the
next-generation Centurion 2.0 by August 31, 2010. The Centurion 2.0
delivers 135 hp, and its weight is identical to the 1.7. But it
offers a 50 percent longer TBO. As with all Centurion engines the
maximum engine performance is also equivalent to the maximum
continuous output in cruise flight.
All types of aircraft with Centurion 1.7 engines can be equipped
with the Centurion 2.0 engine, including Cessna 172, Piper PA28,
Robin DR400 and Diamond DA40 and DA42 aircraft. As the Centurion
2.0 has the same weight and size dimensions as the 1.7 engine, it
is approved with the same STCs. In particular, Centurion says that
for owners of Diamond DA40 and DA42 aircraft the upgrade will allow
them to avoid expensive airframe revisions.
Along with the 1,500 hours lifetime of the 2.0 engine, certain
components, such as the clutch, have been increased even more. Each
newly manufactured Centurion 2.0 is accompanied by a voucher for a
free replacement clutch and gearbox at 300 hours, as long as these
components are not yet approved for 600 hours.
The upgrade program is now valid until the end of August. The
company is guaranteeing delivery within four weeks for 2.0 upgrade
kit orders. In addition, Centurion Aircraft Engines will reimburse
about $9.23 for each unused flight hour up to the 1,000th hour
through the service center placing the order (up to $1,847 total
reimbursement). The rebate will be issued after the removed
Centurion 1.7 engine has been returned to Centurion Aircraft
Engines. The upgrade itself involves a direct one-to-one
replacement of the 1.7 engine with the 2.0 model, similar
replacement of a Centurion 1.7 at the end of its lifetime.
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