OT, Sort Of: Thielert and Van Bortel
 

For those that haven't seen this, today's AOPA e-mail newsletter mentions that Van Bortel aircraft (very reputable if not expen$ive Cessna dealer) is now offering new 2006 Skyhawks with the Thielert Centurion 1.7 engine. They are claiming double the fuel efficiency of the Lycoming IO-360's and optimal cruise altitude of 12,000ft.

The downside: $239,500 for a NAVII (Bendix/King avionics) equipped Skyhawk is very hard to swallow.

Now if Thielert will just wise up and sell to the homebuilt market. Sounds like that Thielert would be a good match for the RV series.

Not affiliated in any way..just found this to be notable and a positive step for GA.

http://www.vanbortel.com/inventory/Thielert.htm

Thielert = superior engine = perfect for RV9
 

Yes !, as I have posted here before, the Thielert engine would be "the perfect engine" for the RV9(A) with its 135 BHP, turbo, intercooler, liquid cooled, light weight, FADEC, single lever control, 2000 hrs. guarantied exchange programme, etc. etc. etc. but,......... unfortunately Thielert will not sell to the individual experimental builder !!

Only if Vans would come to an agreement with Thielert, we (RV-builders) would be able to use a Centurion in our RV's. In a previous thread I asked if there were other builders interested to team up to put pressure on Vans to get this deal going, but ........ no response at all !!!

So, at the moment, for us RV9-ers, it looks like the only alternatives to the AVGAS slurpers are: Wilksch, Delta Hawk, Limbach and ........???

(approx. fuel prices in Europe: Avgas = $ 9,75/gal. Jet A1/diesel = $ 3,25/gal. Mogas = $ 5,75/gal)

Obviously diesel would be preferred, due to its lower fuel consumption and lower fuel price, but, unfortunately, the only alternative on the market (Wilksch) is not showing any performance at the moment.

Still awaiting.

Regards, PilotTonny.

Tony

The first RV-9a Wilksch has flown but has some cooling issues. The second is awaiting a permit to test (UK requirement). I gather a Murphy Rebel is also flying. There should be some performance figures for the Wilksch within a few months.

Dave

I discussed the opportunities of supplying this engine to the homebuilt market with these engine folks at the Farnborough airshow last summer and was told that the engine set up was extremely complex and customized for each application. they said that they did not want to go into the homebuilt area.

For which company? Thielert, Wilksch, DeltaHawk, Limbach?

Are you not allowed to run Mogas in you Lycoming for some reason?....My IO360 saw its last fill up of AVGAS about three tankfuls ago...92OCT mogas from now on.

Frank

That sounds like Thielert!

Dave,

I posted here before on the Wlksch issue!

They are aware of the fact that I am interested in their engine, but are not even answering my email! "Back in the old days", Mark Wilksch tried to get me into buying one of his engines, but I understand he is no longer with the company, and allready things start to go bad!?

Anyway, without "the numbers" no go for me at this time and also I need some evidence of Wilksch'es commitment before I can buy an engine and hope they will back it up in the future (warranty, spare parts, etc.).

Regards,

PilotTonny.

I can't even get Wilksch to answer my emails, over a couple of months of trying. Between that and seeing no updates to their website for 17 months now, that's a pretty big negative indicator.

Why?
 

Ha Ha Ha Next. :eek:

Tony not sure where you got your numbers from but in the good ol US of A the price for Avgas and Jet A is about the same. It varies, by part of country. I guess you can haul car Diesel to your plane and save a buck, but you can do that with Avgas. Not practical for most people. At the car/truck stop regular gas is about 0.40 cents cheaper than diesel.

What is the economics? What is the drive for a much heavier engine for a light aerobatic STOL sport plane? Weight affects Stall, Climb, T/O & Lndg distance negatively. Not to mention the apparent purchase price. $1/4 M for a single engine prop plane!!!!!!! No thanks. It's still a single engine plane with no de-ice, radar or any thing to make it a serious traveling machine.

I do appreciate Diesels. The VW diesel car gets great gas mileage, but the honda civic with a gas engine gets almost as much. My friend has a 23 foot sail boat with a one lung german diesel aux motor. Diesel is good for boats because boats blow up when gas fumes ignite. Diesel is less volatile.

All good things but to get that 1 gal/hr or 2 gal/hr less less fuel burn? Than you really have to wounder if Cessna will sell many Skyhawks at .25M when old gas powered ones can be bought for $40k-$100k. Sure maintenance could be less? But $200,000 less vs. maintenance?