ACAC Selects Superior Air Part's Vantage Engine To Power The New "High Country Explorer"

Superior Air Parts has announced that American Champion Aircraft is the first aircraft manufacturer to use the new Vantage Engine on a certified aircraft.

ACA will use a Vantage Engine de-rated to 170 horsepower on their new "High Country Explorer" aircraft, which is an enhanced version of the company's popular 7GCBC Explorer.

"The creation of this new aircraft is a direct response to customer demand," explained Jerry Mehlhaff, ACA's President. "Everybody's asking for a bigger engine that will give the airplane the added performance back country pilots need." And it's proving to be just that kind of performance in its early test flights.

"We've only flown it a few hours, but the early numbers are really strong," Mehlhaff said. "It really shows off its advantages in the takeoff and climb performance areas. We have seen takeoff distances as short as 200-feet and climb rates as high as 1,800 feet-per-minute. Full-power, full-flap stall speed is 32 miles-per-hour, and we really had to work to make it stall there."

"Another key advantage that the Vantage Engine will bring to High Country Explorer operators is the capability to operate on unleaded auto fuel," Mehlhaff added. "This will greatly enhance the airplanes operation in areas where Avgas is hard to find or expensive to buy."

"My dealers and the people they talk to about the new airplane with the Vantage Engine are very excited about it," he added. "Everyone knows the quality and performance of Superior's Millennium Cylinders, so you can imagine how much we're all looking forward to enjoying the performance of this complete new engine."

"We couldn't be happier about American Champion being the first OEM to use the Vantage Engine," added Terry Wood, Superior's V.P. Sales. "It's even a more exciting situation because they have decided to de-rate the 180 horsepower Vantage down to 170 horsepower. This shows the versatility of the engine."

Wood explained that "High Country Explorer" pilots will enjoy more performance from the de-rated 170 horsepower engine. For example, the de-rated Vantage Engine will actually deliver more power at higher altitudes than a "standard" engine that is "fully rated". This is because a standard O-320 with maximum power output (sea level) of 160 horsepower will only produce 117 horsepower at 7,500 feet on a standard day.

A Vantage Engine in the same application, de-rated to 170 horsepower at sea level, will deliver 145 horsepower at 7,500 feet - an increase of 24% over the standard O-320. Alternatively, the de-rated Vantage Engine could be operated at reduced speeds and/or manifold pressures to match the O-320's 117 horsepower at altitude to enjoy the lower fuel flow. 

"The High Country Explorer is going to be a combination recreational and working aircraft that will appeal to people who have to routinely operate at higher altitudes," Mehlhaff continued. "It's a horsepower per pound ratio kind of thing. With the de-rated Vantage Engine, we're getting pretty close to 10 pounds per horsepower."

Along with the improved performance of the Vantage Engine, the new "High Country Explorer" will feature ACA's high-lift wing, vortex generators, aluminum landing gear, tundra tires and other refinements that will make it a true high-country performer.

FMI: www.vantageengine.com