“Kawasaki plans to enter the construction of piston engines for propeller aircraft. The Japanese company will present the planned engine family at the Aero aviation trade fair in Friedrichshafen, starting April 9. Kawasaki is causing a stir because it's rare for new, certified piston aircraft engines to be introduced. The last real innovation was a diesel engine based on a Mercedes engine, first developed by the German company Thielert and later by the Austrian company Austro Engines. But that was 25 years ago.
The majority of Cessna, Piper, and other aircraft worldwide still fly with high-displacement boxer engines from US manufacturers Lycoming and Continental, which were developed back in the 1950s. They have comparatively high fuel consumption and usually require leaded aviation fuel (AVGA).
The new Kawasaki inline engines, on the other hand, run on unleaded automotive fuel and weigh much less than the US dinosaurs.
Kawasaki, however, isn't developing the engines from scratch.
Proven engines from the Ninja motorcycle series are being adapted for aviation use.
This includes a reduction gear to suit the relatively slow-speed propellers in propeller aircraft.
The liquid-cooled four-cylinder is expected to achieve 117 hp without a turbocharger and 200 hp with a turbocharger, while the six-cylinder will achieve 240 hp without a turbocharger and 375 hp with a turbocharger, each as takeoff power.
This is important for takeoff from short runways and in high temperatures. Continuous power is about 20 percent lower. The future engine range would be sufficient for most of the single- and twin-engine propeller aircraft currently flying, with two to eight seats.
A specific application is currently being developed. Volt Aero is building a five-seat propeller aircraft with a hybrid drive called the Cassio 330, for which the four-cylinder engine primarily serves as a range extender for battery charging. Optionally, it can also directly drive the propeller when high peak power is required, for example during takeoff or go-around maneuvers. Kawasaki has invested in the young company.
It may still take some time, however, before the Ninja engines are available for purchase in new aircraft or possibly even for retrofitting older aircraft. The engines must be approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration and its European counterpart, which is expected to take until 2030.
Even a completely new twelve-cylinder engine is apparently being planned in Japan. It is expected to cause a sensation with up to 1,360 hp takeoff power.” [1]
1. Eine Ninja hebt ab: Kawasaki baut
Motoren für Kleinflugzeuge. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; Frankfurt.
01 Apr 2025: T2. JÜRGEN SCHELLING
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