From The O-200 To The IO-550 Series, TCM Is A Major Force In Aviation--Part Two!

As we noted in the first part of this program, there have been some big changes at Teledyne Continental Motors over the last year... with the retirement of long-time boss Bryan Lewis, a man with a new vision has taken the reins of one of GA's leading powerplant manufacturers with an eye toward keeping TCM at the forefront of GA tech. In addition to that, TCM's investment in FADEC is paying off as over 100 FADEC equipped Continental engines are now flying the skies, and Cessna has chosen a redesigned Continental O-200D (shown below) to power the SkyCatcher LSA.

That man is Rhett Ross, and as the new CEO for TCM, he has an opportunity to push this company and our industry into even more powerful directions and technologies. In the first exclusive interview with the new CEO of Teledyne Continental, ANN found that Rhett Ross found that he seemed to have a good handle on what TCM's next steps must be in order to maintain industry dominance.

ANN also noted that as one of the most progressive piston engine manufacturers in the world, TCM realizes that the days of the conventional piston engine are numbered. Ross and TCM have made a strong commitment to FADEC controlled engines (which will allow for some significant latitude in the types of avgas-like fuels we burn), as well as indicating a strong commitment to alternative fueled engines.

It is this kind of activity and this kind of commitment on the part of a major powerplant manufacturer that makes the future of alternatively fueled powerplants a bright one... a damned bright one. Aviation can only benefit as a result of the use of new technologies. Further; aviation has much to gain by having a choice of new and hopefully less expensive (but certainly more available) fuels -- and let's face it, aviation has been held hostage to 50 year old engine technology for 49.9 years too long.

ANN's Jim Campbell dragged the Aero-TV team to coastal Mobile, AL, to see the latest and greatest in TCM's world -- and to get a feel for how Ross's plans seem to be going.

Click Here To Come Along On An Eye-Opening Tour With TCM's Rhett Ross... Inside The Heart Of TCM (Part 2)!

FMI: http://tcmlink.com, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork