There is no general Turbotech thread yet, so here we go.
Latest marketing video:
There are talking about 24.5 litres per hour now. Of course, the don‘t say at how much power, but obviously at least enough to keep the aircraft flying. Flight idle is supposedly 2gph.
Only coming for uncertified aircraft for now.
I feel the price difference over Rotax 915 powered aircraft will be substantial. No idea about maintenance costs.
This is so cool and may be a reason for quite some to go uncertified…
What an engine! He is indeed in Gap when the engine starts, but suddenly when the plane takes off, it’s from Aspres sur Buech – not too far (requires MOU). This engine teleports you to the airfield next door.
https://www.turbotech-aero.com/
This youtube link on the main turbotech website does a deep dive (in french of course) – initial units around 100k euros – as volume goes up price comes down but they think the addressable market is around 200 a year max
the don‘t say at how much power
Or more important for a turboprop or jet, at what altitude…
I will sure wait for a few hundred planes to accumulate experience and work out the inevitable teething problems before re-engineering my steed 😉
For the record, it’s the same turboprop which Robin had on display at Aero 2023:
https://www.euroga.org/forums/aircraft/14754-turboprop-robin#post_341148
When will we see a Robin flying with this engine? (highly unlikely, I know…)
That Robin was a mockup. My guess is it will never fly with that engine.
I wish them all the success! In the end a turbine is the perfect engine for an aircraft.
But I am not sure if the current engine is not too weak for the UL market. The Rotax 916 has got more power and it is not clear if the turbine can outrun it at altitude as this turbine seems to be designed for low altitude operation like a helicopter engine. While it is super cool it will be a lot more expensive so I assume it should be more like 180 or 200 hp to justify that price. If such power makes sense in an UL is then another question.
The 916 clearly has an advantage on power, but power can increase with time.
This been said, we are looking here at the case of the certified world, but this turbine is aiming smaller/less contraining regulation, where you don’t need a rating to fly it(homebuilt/UL). In this frame, the power is limited and turbotech clearly has an advantage in all but price.
From price perspective, 916 is still less expensive while more powerfull (160/145bhp, 35K euro). It is also bigger and needs a lot of cooling to work – which is a common problem with 915.
Let’s imagine thiis engine goes on a C172/Pa28, will pilot need a SET rating to fly them? Will SET rating be adapted to the turbotech?
Don’t forget ULs can only have IIRC a maximum of 100hp unless there is a rule change.
IIRC UL helicopters are allowed a little extra HP.
