Sun ‘n Fun in Lakeland, Florida, kicks off a fresh flying season, but we were underwhelmed by the lack of fresh products. Still, there were some head turners. The first came from Piper, announcing a deal with Wisconsin-based DeltaHawk to try out the company’s Jet-A and SAF-burning engines in the popular PA-44 Seminole twin-engine trainer, pictured above on display in Piper’s show exhibit.
DeltaHawk will get an STC to install the 180-horsepower four-cylinder engines on the Seminole. The STC will cover both new aircraft and retrofits. “Our advanced diesel engine technology has been developed to meet the evolving needs of the aviation industry, and we see tremendous potential in integrating it into Piper’s PA-44 Seminole,” said DeltaHawk CEO Christopher Ruud. No time frame has been stated, but we’re watching.