Business & GA

UK engine company Powerplant Developments has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Italian light aircraft maker Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam for the delivery of a pre-certification Gemini 100, two-stroke, six-cylinder, 100hp diesel engine – together with two or the larger and more powerful Gemini 125s.

The announcement was made at AirVenture yesterday.

“We couldn’t be more excited and proud that such a well-established aircraft manufacturer as Tecnam has shown such a high level of confidence in the Gemini engine program,” says Powerplant’s Tim Archer.

“As you can imagine, this is a major step in the development of the Gemini family and is even more exciting because it will give the program immediate exposure into the European markets where an efficient and reliable diesel/Jet A-powered piston engine is critically needed by GA owners and operators.”

Tecnam will install a Gemini 100 in its P92 Eaglet LSA for evaluation and, after that initial flight test period, the airframer will determine which of its LSAs and ultralight aircraft will be offered with Powerplant Development’s piston diesel engines.

Tecnam will also install and evaluate a pair of 125-HP Gemini 125 piston diesels on its already certified twin-engined P2006T aircraft. 

“We anticipate that Gemini engines will bring an exceptional level of performance and capability to Tecnam aircraft owners,” says Paolo Pascale Langer, the company’s MD. “Its very low weight for a diesel, provides greater efficiency and a higher torque than is found in currently-available engines. I believe that Gemini 100 and 125 engines will exceed our owners’ expectations.”

With a 2,000hrs TBO (moving towards 3,000hrs), the innovative engines are priced at $18,000 (Gemini 100) and $23,500 (Gemini 125) and both are designed to deliver fuel consumption of around 3 to 3.5 gph, depending on installation and airframe. And, while the 100 weighs only 155lbs dry (190lbs wet installed), its bigger brother is still weight conscious with comparable figures of 170lbs and 201lbs.