Make mine a turbine!

To say aviation and turbines is a happy marriage is true−albeit mainly in the airline, business aircraft and helicopter world. Light aviation, especially the ultralight segment, remains essentially a turbine free field−apart from noble exceptions, in the form of single-engine jets and ‘experimentals’.

- Marino Boric

Now French newcomer Turbotech is on a mission to challenge the dominance of piston engines and−unheard of in this field− is promising turboprop fuel consumption comparable to piston engines. The company also has an interesting turbogenerator proposal for new e-VTOL and electric aircraft.

Currently small turboprops are practically non-existent, although Czech company PBS has in its portfolio the TP100, which should soon be ready for aircraft installation (a few units have apparently been delivered to interested aircraft manufacturers). The TP100 is not in focus of this article as it is way too powerful for typical four-seaters and ultralights, producing 241shp (shaft horsepower).

Today’s focus is on Turbotech’s brand new product, the TP-R90 turboprop, which is rated at 90kW (120shp)−neatly falling in the ultralight segment, where aircraft are typically powered today by 100-115hp Rotax piston engines. Turbotech is also offering−based on a similar, but smaller turbine core−another interesting powerplant, the TGR55 turbogenerator−a ‘range extender’ solution for hybrid-electric powered aircraft.