Continental Motors has announced at Airshow China that it will develop a new range of diesel piston engines for the general aviation market.

The new engines will be based on Continental's existing range of piston engines and will be launched with three models: the 150-180hp (110-130kW) TD220, 200-250hp TD300 and 300-350hp TD450.

The TD300 will be the first to reach the market, with production to commence next year, followed by the TD450 in 2015. No production date has been set for the TD220 yet.

"The [Continental] line of diesel engines will allow [original equipment manufacturers] to develop aircraft that can fly anywhere in the world using the most common aviation fuel, aviation kerosene," says Continental Motors chairman Yu Yimin.

Continental Motors is a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

Source: Flight International