MOBILE, Alabama — Continental Motors Group has expanded its family of diesel engines, adding the CD-265 and CDR-285 engines.
The CD-265 is intended for fix-winged applications, while the CDR-285 is designed for rotary wing applications.
The CD-265 and CDR-285 are air cooled, boxer style turbocharged engines producing 262 hp at 2,500 rpm and 285 hp at 2,700 rpm.
Both derive from the CD-230 that was first certified by Continental Motors in December 2012, according to company officials.
“Our commitment to general aviation is to provide engines that are suited to our client’s needs. In some regions of the world, our clients are requesting jet fuel engines because of avgas availability and its high cost. We intend to fulfill this need by offering a complete line of diesel cycle engines, covering all the needs expressed by our clients,” said Rhett Ross, president, and CEO. “This is true for fixed winged applications, but also for rotary wing applications. Helicopter manufacturers are expressing more and more interest in JetA burning engines, and we worked hard to deliver the right solution to their requests. The CDR-285 is a game changer as it offers an alternative to fuel hungry turbines, lowering total ownership costs and direct operating costs.”
Certification testing is already underway, and Continental Motors Group officials say they anticipate certification of both models in the first days of 2018.
Here in Bermuda, AVGAS is not to be had, so we could only dream of a light GA airplane to fly around the Island. There have`nt been any other than some old Luscombe float planes from WW2 period , up to the 1960s.
My first introduction to aero-diesel engines was in Florida in 2005 the Theirlert centurion engine.
we operated a C172SP conversion here in Bermuda which we leased from EPIC Aviation during 2006/07.
This a heavenly trouble free year of Island flying, in fact the airplane was ferried to us from new Smyrna Beach via Elizabeth City. The flight to Bermuda was 5.5 hrs. Sadly we had to let the bird go,Theirlert was experiencing difficulties.
An enterprising local businessman came up with the idea of an Island air-tour operation.
A theirlert converted C172M was located in Belgium, he purchased the bird. In October 2014, he ( non-pilot ) and an Italian pilot ferried the airplane from Europe to Bermuda, via England, Scotland Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland Canada, to the U.S. down to Norfolk VA., and a 5.5hrh flight to Bermuda.
The Company Blue Sky Flights was issued an Air Operating Certificate by The Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority in May 2015 to conduct air-tour operations.
With the acquisition of Theirlert by Continental Engines our airplane was fitted with the new Contl. CD 135 replacing the old Centurion 1.7. thus assuring continued flight operations here in Bermuda.
I feel most privileged to be so close to experience the development of light aero-desiel engines, I have a paltry 200+ hrs of flying diesels, but can say they are here to stay.
One can say we can attest to the reliability of diesel-aero engines