3/23/2023 0 Comments Gearcity aiprlane engine“An overhaul for the diesel combustion cycle engine would be cost-prohibitive to the customer once you factor in the complexity of the engine, overall inspection time, and cost of new parts. Pricing for the CD-170 has not been released by Continental but company spokesman, Andrea Bertagnolli, explained that an overhaul option for CD-170-powered P2010 is a non-starter. On the other hand, overhauling the IO-360 costs about $26,870 as opposed to buying a new CD-170 diesel. Tecnam estimates the mean TBR at 1,800 hours (Continental puts it at 1,200 hours), similar to the standard 2,000 hour time between overhaul (TBO) for the Lycoming IO-360M1A gasoline engine which powers the 180 hp version of the P2010. “We’re finding with the diesels in Europe that the engine with the FADEC system less maintenance up until the point it is replaced though we haven’t experienced any replacements yet.” That’s the biggest difference,” David Copeland affirms. We do a TBR or Time Between Replacements. The traditional engine re-build so familiar to gasoline-powered airplane owners won’t be part of the extended maintenance routine for P2010 TDI buyers. Long term maintenance and cost have been questions for aviation diesels given the relative lack of such powerplants in the American market. Regardless, the change in marketing lingo suggests the “TDI” designation may be dropped from the P2010’s moniker. The automotive community appears to be conscious of aerodiesels with MotorTrend even covering the subject several years ago. The sensitivity may be aligned with the reputation diesel power acquired with the Volkswagen “dieselgate” scandal of 2015 though Copeland firmly asserts that not one pilot or prospective customer he’s talked to has associated one with the other. “We can say it’s diesel which has an automotive connotation but going forward in 2022, we’re advertising it as a Jet-A aircraft.” “It’s a Jet A aircraft,” Copeland stresses. Despite the fact that the CD-170 is a familiar four-cylinder, in-line, liquid-cooled compression-ignition engine which you can run on fuel from the pump with the green (diesel) handle at your local gas station, the company would much prefer you call it a Jet A engine. The term “diesel” is a touchy one with Tecnam. The "TDI" moniker for the P2010 may not be something Tecnam chooses to highlight in the future. An optional oxygen system is available, allowing flight up to 18,000ft. Tecnam adds that, as with turbocharged gasoline engines, the turbodiesel suffers no loss of performance as altitudes increase up to 8,000 feet. Its 63 gallon fuel capacity gives the aircraft range in excess of 1,000 nautical miles and endurance of up to 12 hours. Given recent prices for avgas and Jet A ($5.34/gal and $4.15/gal respectively at Easton Airport in Maryland), the TDI’s fuel efficiency could add up. Tecnam claims a noteworthy advantage with its diesel powerplant burning only 7 GPH of Jet A at 75% cruise power. At 75% cruise power the Lycoming IO-540-powered 182 burns about 13 gallons per hour (GPH). The TDI’s base price is in the low $430,000 region, on par with Cessna’s 172 but significantly less than the $530,000 base price for a Cessna 182.Ĭessna’s 182 Skylane is arguably the closest competitor to the P2010 TDI with similar avionics, passenger/load capacity, range, cruise speed and service ceiling numbers. The new owner likely plunked down about $500,000 for the airplane, a sticker price Copeland says is representative of well optioned TDIs, which feature an avionics package including Garmin’s GRMN G1000 NXi glass cockpit and GFC 700 autopilot, entirely integrated and tuned around the CD-170 engine. deliveries begin next week with a TDI destined for a customer in the Carolinas. According to Copeland, Tecnam has already delivered 70 P2010 TDIs in Europe and the first U.S. followed the TDI’s type certification in Europe in 2020. Certification of the TDI variant with its 170 hp Continental CD-170 turbodiesel engine in the U.S. TecnamįAA certified in 2015, it began selling into the U.S. The P2010 is Tecnam's advanced competitor in the piston single market, now available with Jet.
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