The Thielert Centurion is a series of Diesel cycle aircraft engines for general aviation built by Thielert. They are based on heavily modified Mercedes-Benz automotive engines.
All Centurion engines are water-cooled, turbocharged and employ a single-lever digital engine management system (FADEC). This simplifies engine management for the pilot, as well as improving reliability, as it prevents the engine being operated improperly. The series utilizes either jet fuel or diesel fuel. The high compression ratio of the engine combined with the digitally controlled fuel injection system mirrors similar advances in automotive technology.
Centurion series engines are always fitted with constant speed propellers driven through a reduction gearbox. The constant speed propeller and reduction gear result in a propeller tip speed that is 10-15% lower than comparable conventional avgas engines, reducing propeller noise.
The Diesel engine’s high compression results in better fuel efficiency and the higher operating rpm of the Centurion allows higher power to be developed from a smaller displacement, in comparison to conventional aircraft piston engines.
A Centurion engine complete with CSU, reduction gearbox, turbocharger and FADEC engine management system is considerably heavier than the more conventional Continental and Lycoming engines with which it competes, but this weight disadvantage is compensated for by the Centurion’s lower fuel consumption. Even though it lacks the magnetos and spark plugs of the conventional piston engines, the Centurion engines are considerably more complex.
The Centurion 2.0 introduced in late 2006. The main difference is a new Mercedes-Benz OM640 engine cylinder block from the Mercedes-Benz A 200 CDI (W169) with a displacement of 1991 cc (83 x 92 mm). Other improvements include a more compact FADEC, a lighter cast gearbox housing, interfaces for glass cockpits and a new service tool that allows the FADEC to be programmed in the field. Dimensions of the Centurion 2.0 and 1.7 are nearly identical and the install kits are compatible, so a 1.7 at the end of its life can be replaced with a 2.0. The Centurion 2.0 is rated for a power output of 135 hp (101 kW), the same as the 1.7, but is EASA and FAA certified for 155 hp (116 kW). It has accumulated more than 1,000,000 flight hours without mechanical failures as of April 2008.
The Centurion 2.0 S 4-cylinder turbodiesel with common rail direct injection and redundant FADEC control offers 155 hp (116 kW), thus providing a clearly perceptible increase in performance compared with the 135 hp (101 kW) Centurion 2.0. Despite of improved performance Centurion 2.0s weighs as much as the Centurion 2.0
Applications:
Diamond DA42 Twin Star
Diamond DA40
Cessna 172 (“F” and later models, modified under a Supplemental Type Certificate)
Robin DR400 Ecoflyer
Piper PA-28 Cherokee
All Aero 