Ups and Downs in the Plastic Aviation World
Today is full of news from the modern general aviation world. On the good side, Cirrus and G1000 finally meet, on the bad side, tensions between Diamond and Thielert get more serious.
Good thing first - the so-called “Cirrus Perspective” will integrate the Garmin 1000. From the videos available on the Cirrus website and on AviationWorld , it’s clearly more than simply fitting the G1000 in the plane. There are adaptations to the autopilot, an integrated keyboard to avoid too-much of knob-turning, and a go-around button on the throttle, like in jets.
Press the go-around button, and the autopilot will disconnect from approach mode, and the flight director will dictate a pitch-up attitude. Fly it, push the throttle forward, and here you go. Pressing this button will also activate the missed-approach segment in the GPS. That’s probably the most advanced integration of G1000 ever, and makes the Cirrus Perspective a very seriously equipped high performance single. I just miss the budget right now 
Budget also seems to be at the core of increased tensions between Diamond and Thielert, following the bankruptcy of the German diesel engine manufacturer. According to AVweb coverage, the bankruptcy administrator did not accept any of the Diamond proposals to buy spare parts. Owners have to pay for their replacement parts (gear box and the infamous high-pressure pumps) upfront, and organize delivery by themselves.
The good news on the AustroEngine front are certainly good on medium to long term, particularly as a retrofit will be possible, but certification is not expected before next year. The present situation of DA40 and DA42 owners is complex, but Diamond does its best to support them.
My previous bet was that Diamond would buy significant assets from Thielert, but it’s less likely to happen if the Thielert’s bankruptcy administrator simply tries to make as much money as possible, instead of looking for the company future…
4 Comments, Comment or Ping
CMJ
Okay so if Thielert isn’t going to be doing replacements of the engines, does this mean that USA companies are going to start supporting engine part repairs just like they do for the major components from Lyc and TCM?
Is Diamond going to line up a set of recommended vendors? What about Cesna?
May 20th, 2008
PlasticPilot
CMJ, I’ve no idea how things will go on. Diamond informs owners directly, on a regular basis, but the situation is evolving too quickly at the moment to see definitive solutions.
As several parts of the Thielert engines are not planned to be “maintained” but replaced (including high pressure pump and gear-box), I don’t know how things will go on. If any Thielert equipped plane owner or Diamond representative wants to answer…
May 20th, 2008
Jess Sightler
One of the big aftermarket suppliers for non-Thielert engines in the US is itself a Thielert subsidiary. They are Superior Air Parts, and so far are continuing unaffected by the bankruptcy of their parent company. I suspect that things might continue to get worse for a while, but in the end the court has to recognize that this approach is destroying value more than it is helping.
My guess is that someone will end up supplying parts (perhaps even Superior), but perhaps not on favorable terms for current owners.
May 21st, 2008
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