News
Cessna unveils Jet-A burning piston engine

July 24, 2012 – Cessna Aircraft Co. on Monday unveiled a new engine that will allow one of its single-engine general aviation aircraft to use Jet A fuel rather than leaded aviation gasoline, or avgas, that such engines have traditionally run on.

The engine is being used on Cessna’s Model 182 Skylane, now being marketed as the Turbo 182 NXT, and will be available in the second quarter of 2013 and cost $515,000, according to a blog post from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Cessna rolled out the new engine at theExperimental Aircraft Association’s 2012 AirVenture aviation festival taking place this week in Oshkosh, Wis.

In its own news release, Cessna says the Safran-made engine burns 11 gallons of Jet A fuel per hour at a maximum cruising speed of 155 knots (178 mph).

Cessna also touts the environmental benefits of the engine, which has zero lead and carbon monoxide emissions.

In addition, Cessna says, the new engine will burn 30 to 40 percent less fuel than a comparable avgas engine. Couple that with the fact that Jet A fuel is generally less expensive than avgas, and Cessna says the new plane will offer “significantly lower direct operating costs.”

“Cessna’s Turbo 182 NXT delivers a solution that the marketplace has been asking for,”Jeff Umscheid, business leader for Cessna’s 172, 182, and 206 models. “The 230-horsepower Jet A engine offers customers increased range and greater payload capacity and does not sacrifice performance. This is a game-changer that opens up new markets and new regions of the world due to its versatility and performance.”

The new engine comes at about $70,000 premium, though. Current 182 Skylane turbo models start new at about $440,000.