From today’s AOPA ePilot:
"FRENCH COMPANY TO PRODUCE DIESEL ENGINE
A French company has received Design Organization Approval in Europe for its SR 305 230-horsepower diesel engine that offers improved performance, longer TBO, and the ability to run on jet fuel. SMA, Societe de Motorisation Aeronautiques, created four years ago by Aerospatiale and Renault for the development and sales of a range of piston aircraft engines, plans to go into production soon. All of the testing has been completed. Following an administrative process, the company expects to have certification under the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) by the end of the month, said a company official. Through a reciprocal agreement, SMA also plans to receive FAA certification in the United States later this year. A price has not been announced."
Has anybody ever looked at the Deltahawk diesel engines? Their approach seems interesting to me eventhough they conceed a certified engine is at least 2 years out. Kitbuilders might be the first ones to make a new experience in GA. Granted their comparison numbers with the 200hp Lycoming are anywhere close to reality, the cost savings are tremendous. Also the projected price for a new engine is almost half of what our TCM costs.
I have heard that the SMA engine will be so much more expensive to buy in the first place that it will be hard to justify from an economic point of view to ever see it in a SRXX.
Look at www.deltahawkengines.com
Cheers,
Placido
From today’s AOPA ePilot:
"FRENCH COMPANY TO PRODUCE DIESEL ENGINE
A French company has received Design Organization Approval in Europe for its SR 305 230-horsepower diesel engine that offers improved performance, longer TBO, and the ability to run on jet fuel. SMA, Societe de Motorisation Aeronautiques, created four years ago by Aerospatiale and Renault for the development and sales of a range of piston aircraft engines, plans to go into production soon. All of the testing has been completed. Following an administrative process, the company expects to have certification under the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) by the end of the month, said a company official. Through a reciprocal agreement, SMA also plans to receive FAA certification in the United States later this year. A price has not been announced."