DeltaHawk Engines, Inc. and LoPresti Speed Merchants have begun work on a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to install a DeltaHawk Turbo-Diesel engine in a Cirrus SR20.
The SR20 will be the first aircraft certified with the DeltaHawk engine.
The Jet-A -fueled DeltaHawk Turbo-Diesel engine has the highest power-to-weight ratio of any aero-diesel engine, according to company officials, who note on a typical mission it burns 30-40% less fuel than a gasoline engine, and develops 100% of rated horsepower to 18,000 feet.
When matched with the SR20 airframe, the package will offer higher payload and greatly enhanced range and speed, DeltaHawk officials note.
LoPresti Speed Merchants is working on a cowl to increase aerodynamic performance.
“The DeltaHawk-LoPresti collaboration is leading the way to the future of general aviation,” said Diane Doers, DeltaHawk CEO. “The performance and value of the SR20 aircraft is going to be greatly enhanced — and this is just the first of many STCs that will be coming.”
“Our intention is to bring the DeltaHawk STC to market as fast as a bunny rabbit,” added Rj Siegel of LoPresti. “We are rabid fans of this engine and, although it may seem that we have a wild hare up our butts, actually we just want to high tail it to market.”
Development work on the STC has been progressing for several months. SR20 owners Tom Noonan and Steve Hart of Rochester, N.Y., are providing their SR20 for the project, which is expected to be completed within a year.
For more information: DeltaHawkEngines.com or SpeedMods.com.
fingers crossed on this one…