Van Bortel Installs Centurion 1.7 In New C-172s

Thielert announced today at AOPA Expo 2006 that Arlington, TX-based Van Bortel Aircraft will market Centurion 1.7 diesel-equipped brand-new Cessna 172 Skyhawks. Van Bortel will replace the conventional engines with Cessna's support.

Thielert has been developing its line of aviation diesels for several years. Although the company markets it's Centurion 1.7 as a diesel, it actually burns Jet A -- which happens to be both cheaper and more readily available world-wide than avgas. Equipped with the latest technology such a single lever control, the engine also features a constant speed propeller, full authority digital engine control (FADEC) as well as a turbo charger for improved performance at high altitudes.

"We are proud of our cooperation with the world's largest Cessna reseller," says Frank Thielert, Managing director of Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH. "The installation of our Centurion engine in brand-new Cessna Skyhawks presents buyers with yet another chance to switch over to the new generation of diesel-powered aircraft."

Van Bortel has already put the first retrofitted Skyhawks into operation and uses them for demo flights. "We are amazed at how little fuel the Centurion engines use compared to the 180-bhp avgas engines," explains company president Howard G. van Bortel. "We are highly impressed by the quality and engineering of both the Centurion engine and the retrofit kits. Up to now no Skyhawk has been able to climb to 12,000 feet so quickly."

Jasper M. Wolffson, Head of Sales and Service at Thielert, is also very enthusiastic about the cooperation saying, "The cooperation with Van Bortel Aircraft is opening up new sales channels for Thielert as well as further opportunities in the general aviation market."

In addition to considerable fuel savings, the Centurion engines offer a host of other technical benefits:

• Qualitative mixture control: Only the desired amount of fuel is injected - the engine always operates at the optimal mixture. By design, a diesel engine cannot be destroyed by lean run
• Self Sparking: No danger of uncontrolled detonation, since fuel is not introduced until the optimal moment of combustion
• Jet fuel piston engines are extremely robust. As a result of their combustion process, the peak combustion chamber pressure is extremely high event at partial load. As opposed to a gasoline engine, the jet fuel engine is designed for continuous high stress, making it suitable for aviation applications

Thielert recently purchased Superior Engine Parts here in the US in an effort to establish a marketing and distribution network here. As ANN reported, the company already has an STC for installing the Centurion 1.7 in the C-172 airframe. It also has a deal with American Flyers to retrofit some of its C-172s used for flight training with Thielerts. American Flyers is using those planes at its Pompano Beach facility. Epic aviation of New Smyrna Beach, FL has been performing those retrofits.

FMI: www.thielert.com