Cessna bringing Jet A fuel engine to piston market

Cessna Aircraft Company is introducing an innovative technology for single-engine airplanes that will usher in new capabilities and increase the flexibility of general aviation. Cessna's Model 182, Skylane will now be available as the Turbo 182 NXT equipped with the
first engine of its kind in the single-engine industry designed to run on Jet A aviation fuel.

"Cessna's Turbo 182 NXT delivers a solution that the marketplace has been asking for," said Jeff Umscheid, Cessna 172, 182, 206 Business Leader. "The 230 hp Jet A engine offers customers increased range and greater payload capacity and does not sacrifice performance. This plane offers significantly lower direct operating costs due to the fact that Jet A fuel is typically more affordable and much more widely available."

The Turbo 182 NXT is a result of market research and has already undergone extensive reliability testing, as well as flight testing. The Safran-made SMA engine is engineered specifically for aviation and is already FAA and EASA certified. The engine uses only 11 gallons per hour of the typically lower-cost Jet A fuel at the estimated maximum cruise speed of 155 knots.

"Operators can now take advantage of the wider availability of Jet A with the potential to fly farther on one gallon of gas than you can with traditional avgas aircraft," Umscheid said. "This is a game-changer that opens up new markets and new regions of the world due to its versatility and performance."

There are environmental benefits that go with the Turbo 182 NXT. The fuel technology used in this engine eliminates concerns about carbon monoxide emissions, fuel mixtures, propeller control and exhaust gas. The engine operates at a lower propeller speed. As a result, the turbocharger technology delivers a quieter flight line and reduces noise pollution. There are zero lead emissions and zero CO emissions. Flight at the maximum cruise speed demonstrates greater fuel efficiency, and will burn approximately 30 per cent to 40 per cent less fuel than comparable avgas engines.

The Turbo 182 NXT has a seating capacity for four and an estimated range at max cruise speed of 1,160 nautical miles (2,148 km). The certified ceiling is 20,000 feet (6,096 m). The Garmin G1000 avionics suite is pilot-friendly and highly-functional, bringing great levels of situational awareness to the cockpit. The engine diagnostics display on the primary flight display and the multi-function flight display. Fuel capacity is 87 gallons (329 litres), with an estimated useful load of 1,030 pounds (467 kg).

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