Shortly after AirVenture this year, kit-maker Bearhawk Aircraft announced that the newly certified DeltaHawk DHK180 will be an option for its Bearhawk 4-Place kit aircraft, which is typically powered by either a four-cylinder, 180-HP or six-cylinder, 250-HP Lycoming gas engine. For now, development of the firewall-forward package is being handled by DeltaHawk in Racine, Wisconsin, on an airframe that is currently under construction.
“We are contacted often by pilots all over the world in locations where 100LL avgas is unavailable or very expensive. For these builders, the DeltaHawk represents a great option. In addition, many builders in the U.S. want alternative engine choices. The economical and Jet A burning DeltaHawk will be attractive,” said Mark Goldberg, president of Bearhawk Aircraft.
Dennis Webb, an aircraft Engine DER at DeltaHawk directing the certification effort, added, “Bearhawk designs are extraordinary aircraft in terms of payload and STOL capability, combined with fast cruise speeds. The DeltaHawk DHK180 in a Bearhawk will significantly expand its capabilities, especially with regards to altitude performance, range, and lower cost of operation.”
Package prices have not been announced. DeltaHawk previously quoted engine prices around $60,000 into the experimental market. For context, Glasair Aviation’s firewall-forward package for the Continental CD-155 project penciled out at $110K, but that included a special cowling and MT propeller. When completed, the Bearhawk 4-Place will join a twin Velocity and Cirrus SR20 currently flying the compression-ignition DeltaHawk.
So…This is a clean sheet diesel engine with improvements to make it suitable for aircraft use. I hope this works out as it would be a future solution for leaded/unleaded fuel issues.