CONTINENTAL

CD-170R: the brand's new lowest operating cost diesel cycle helicopter engine

Aeronautical engine manufacturer Continental has presented a new line of CD-170R diesel cycle piston engines, which can be fueled with aviation kerosene (QAV). The objective is to serve the light helicopter market, offering lower operating costs.

The new variant of the CD-100 series was developed for exclusive application in helicopters and has begun the certification process with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), expected to be completed later this year.

The CD-170R series is an evolution of the CD-170 version, which received some improvements and design changes, highlighting its performance similar to the fixed-wing version, maintaining the same standards of efficiency, reliability and ease of temperature management. One of the highlights is scheduled maintenance at 100-hour intervals.

According to Continental, the new four-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 170 hp of power, being equipped with FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control), which allows a reduction in fuel consumption and better management of parameters in all phases. According to official data, the engine consumes an average of 30 liters/hour of Jet-A on a cruise flight.

“Controlled via FADEC with helicopter-specific software mapping, pilots can now direct their focus to critical flight and mission phases, alleviating the need to simultaneously manage power and collective,” said David Dörner, vice president of Continental Global Development.

As it is a specific engine for use in helicopters, the CD-170R does not have a reduction gearbox, allowing a better power-to-weight ratio, being approximately sixteen kilos lighter than the fixed-wing version.

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