Thielert’s New 230 hp Diesel Aircraft Engine
Monday, Thielert Aircraft Engines announced at the Berlin Air Show intent to produce a new liquid-cooled turbocharged diesel-burning, FADEC-controlled single-lever-power 230 bhp engine, the Centurion 3.2. The engine is targeted for air-time in late 2007. Frank Thielert, CEO and founder of Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, said his goal was to offer a complete piston engine product line with, “New engines and engine integrations [that] will enable us in [the] future to cover the entire spectrum of piston aircraft engine technology.” Those products — the 135 bhp Centurion 1.7 (powering many Diamond DA42 Twin Star aircraft and burning 5.6 gph in economy cruise), the coming 230 bhp Centurion 3.2, and a 350 bhp Centurion 4.0 — are supported by 111 service centers currently spanning 97 countries. The addition of more service centers is a company priority, as is Thielert’s intent to make its 350 hp 4.0 available for multiple Cessnas.

Monday, Thielert Aircraft Engines announced at the Berlin Air Show intent to produce a new liquid-cooled turbocharged diesel-burning, FADEC-controlled single-lever-power 230 bhp engine, the Centurion 3.2. The engine is targeted for air-time in late 2007. Frank Thielert, CEO and founder of Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, said his goal was to offer a complete piston engine product line with, "New engines and engine integrations [that] will enable us in [the] future to cover the entire spectrum of piston aircraft engine technology." Those products -- the 135 bhp Centurion 1.7 (powering many Diamond DA42 Twin Star aircraft and burning 5.6 gph in economy cruise), the coming 230 bhp Centurion 3.2, and a 350 bhp Centurion 4.0 -- are supported by 111 service centers currently spanning 97 countries. The addition of more service centers is a company priority, as is Thielert's intent to make its 350 hp 4.0 available for multiple Cessnas. The existing Centurion 4.0 350 bhp jet fuel powered piston engine will be "integrated ... into further popular aircraft..." said Thielert. Specifically, the company seeks to acquire STC's for service in Cessna 206, 340, 414 and 421-series aircraft. See the full text of the company's release, here.
