The new models are the DHK200 and the DHK235. Both will share the same dimensions and weight of the DHK180, which has a rated takeoff power (RTP) and maximum continuous power (MCP) of 180 horsepower.

The DHK200 will produce RTP and MCP of 200 horsepower, while the DHK235 will produce  RTP and MCP of 235 horsepower.

DeltaHawk anticipates the certification and availability of the DHK200 in the third quarter of 2024, followed by certification and availability of the DHK235 in the first half of 2025.

Company officials are hopeful the momentum created by the introduction and certification of the DHK180 will be mirrored by the DHK200 and DHK235. The DHK180 went into production last summer.

• READ MORE: DeltaHawk DHK180 Engine Heads To Production

“Following FAA certification of the DHK180, customer interest and reservation deposits from aircraft OEMs and individual owners in both certified and experimental markets has been extremely high,” said Christopher Rudd, CEO of DeltaHawk Engines. “Our two new engine models build upon the same innovative, pilot-focused technology as the DHK180, while offering even more capability for higher power applications—as will additional engine models yet to be announced.”

About the Engines

DeltaHawk Engines, founded in 1996 and based in Racine, Wisconsin, designs and builds FAA-certified, jet-fueled piston engines for general aviation aircraft and hybrid-power systems.

All the DeltaHawk engines are based upon a clean-sheet design and feature an inverted-V engine block, turbocharging and supercharging, mechanical fuel injection, liquid cooling, direct drive, and, according to the company, 40 percent fewer moving parts than other engines in their category.

DeltaHawk notes the engines produce more usable torque than traditional aircraft engines in their class, all while burning significantly less fuel.

NASA recently selected the DeltaHawk DHK180 engine for its Subsonic Single Aft Engine project, known as SUSAN. Additionally, Ampaire has selected it for a hybrid proof-of-concept aircraft.

DeltaHawk is also working on a new program to develop additional variants of its engine family that will utilize hydrogen fuel in a wide variety of applications, including aviation, commercial road vehicles, and military mobility.

For more information, please visit the DeltaHawk website.

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The company said its clean-sheet DHK180 engine, which received its type certification last year, offers ease of operation, reliability, fuel efficiency, less maintenance, and better performance at altitude compared with traditional piston engines. The DHK engines are now moving toward production, with the first installation planned for an RV-14 owned by aircraft builder Craig Saxton. The aircraft is expected to begin flying with the new engine in late spring.

• READ MORE: DeltaHawk Gains Type Certification on Jet-Fueled Piston Powerplant

“Van’s aircraft are incredibly popular thanks to their high performance with exceptional efficiency, combined with a very high level of safety and ease of operation,” said Jon Heup, president of DeltaHawk Engines. “Those same attributes accurately describe our DeltaHawk engine family, making this a great match.”

Builder Saxton said the DeltaHawk engine is well-suited to the specific RV he’s putting together.

“I approached DeltaHawk because their new engine platform offers superior performance, while being significantly more efficient to operate and maintain. I believe it is a very capable alternative to other engine offerings,” Saxton said. 

• READ MORE: DeltaHawk High on Testing of Hydrogen Engine

Synergy Air, a leading builder assistance company, is working with Saxton on the installation. Vans’s Aircraft is providing technical assistance for the project.

“We’re pleased to be part of this revolutionary project,” said Vaden Francisco, owner of Synergy Air. “We’ve helped build over 200 Van’s RV aircraft to date, and this may be the most exciting one yet.”

DeltaHawk is also developing similar firewall-forward installation packages for Bearhawk Aircraft’s Bearhawk 4-Place. In addition to increased performance over conventional piston engines, the DHK engines have the advantage of burning jet fuel and avoiding the environmental impacts of 100LL, which is not as widely available around the world.

The post DeltaHawk Is Developing a Package for Installing Its DHK Engines in Van’s RV-14s appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

According to Dennis Webb, DeltaHawk director of marketing and certification, the new engine was approximately 15 years in development. 

“It seemed like a long time in the industry. ITt seemed even longer to us,” said Webb, noting that the Racine, Wisconsin-based company was determined to build an engine with the durability of a semitruck, and reliability worthy of the space program. “We chose to make it simple with direct drive rather than a gearbox. Simple is hard in engineering.”

According to the company, the 180 hp DHK180 burns jet fuel and is” the first of a family of engines to come from DeltaHawk and offers ease of operation, high fuel efficiency, reduced maintenance, and superior altitude performance compared to traditional aircraft piston engines.”

• READ MORE: DeltaHawk Gains Type Certification on Jet-Fueled Piston Powerplant

Company officials said the engine was designed to operate more cleanly and efficiently than those already on the market.

Chris Ruud, DeltaHawk CEO, pointed out the DHK180 is built from U.S.-made components. 

“It is 100 percent manufactured in the United States in Racine, Wisconsin,” said Ruud, who comes from an aviation family, and also noted that developments in engineering and technology have made the DHK180 possible. “Thirty to 50 years ago. this engine could not have been produced.”

During the press conference at AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, company officials explained that the engine is designed to operate on fuels other than 100LL and, as such, they have received “extraordinary interest in the new engine from a broad range of aircraft OEMs and experimental kit manufacturers, as well as individual pilots and commercial operators.”

Webb added that the DHK180 was also recently chosen by NASA for its Subsonic Single Aft Engine project, known as SUSAN. The DHK180 also has been selected by Ampaire for a hybrid proof-of-concept aircraft.

What Happens Next?

DeltaHawk is in the process of preparing for engine production and commercial sales. This includes performing more endurance testing and flight evaluations in multiple aircraft.

Webb said the company went beyond the FAA’s requirement for endurance testing for engine certification, and DeltaHawk has a factory warranty program that will cover 24 months or 2,000 hours, whichever comes first.

The new warranty can also be extended to 36 months or 2,400 hours if an operator agrees to provide timely engine-monitoring data and oil analysis—an industry-leading option, according to the company.

In addition, the company’s engine deliveries for both certified and experimental aircraft will include firewall-forward installation packages for specific aircraft. Packages for selected aircraft are now under development, and final pricing will be announced soon. The company is also actively seeking industry partners with engine installation STC experience to augment DeltaHawk’s capabilities.

Initial deliveries of customer engines are planned for the first half of 2024.

The post DeltaHawk DHK180 Engine Heads To Production appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The liquid-cooled,180 hp, 4-cylinder diesel engine uses an inverted “V” configuration and mechanical fuel injection, along with a slimmer design expected to fit more efficiently into modern aircraft cowling. It’s turbocharged and supercharged, direct drive, and has been assembled with 40 percent fewer parts than other engines in its class.

“We began by completely reimagining what a general aviation engine should be,” said Christopher Ruud, DeltaHawk’s CEO. “And the result is that we now have a certified engine that is a game-changer. It’s been a long time coming but, in engineering, simple is hard. However, this engine’s performance, simplicity, and reliability have made it worth the time and the investment, as it is truly ‘power reimagined.’”

A Long Road to TC

It’s not easy or cheap to bring a new powerplant into the GA market, and the DeltaHawk story proves this to be true once again. Few new designs have surfaced in the past 60 years.

The DHK180 stems from the DH180 originally on display at EAA AirVenture 2014 on a Cirrus SR20. After the Ruud family took controlling ownership in 2016, the path toward certification became clearer: The 180 hp variant showed up at Oshkosh in 2019, also on the SR20, and at that time DeltaHawk expected certification by the end of that year. With a little delay—and pandemic induced slowdowns—the engine has now acquired the TC it needs to move into the production phase.

Good things come to those who persevere, however. According to the company, it has had interest from potential suitors from kit builders to the military—even from NASA to power its Subsonic Single Aft Engine Aircraft (SUSAN) scale flight test vehicle.

DeltaHawk expects to deliver the first of its production DHK180s in 2024.

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