Go Fast, Save Fuel - DA40 with CD-155 engine is the winner
Oshkosh, Wisconsin on July 29, 2014 – Continental Motors Group Co., Ltd. of Hong Kong, China announced today that a DA40 aircraft powered by Continental Diesel 100 series engine (CD-155) won the overall Green Speed Cup Competition in June of 2014.
Fuel efficiency and environmental friendly propulsion systems are today’s main challenges in aviation. In order to measure the industry’s progress in balancing performance with fuel economy, the third Green Speed Cup was organized on June 28th and 29th in Strausberg, Germany. The Continental Motors Group participated for the third time with the company owned Diamond DA-40 equipped with a Continental CD-100 series Diesel engine.
“The Green Speed Cup is the only competition of its kind. As in previous years, our team (Markus Becker and Daniel Hirt) took part in this event. This time we were able to reach 1st place, said Ken Suda, President, Continental Motors Germany. “We congratulate them and are very proud that our engine made it possible to win the event against very strong competitors” he added.
The Green Speed Cup has participants fly a predefined distance (between 107 nm and 162 nm) as fast as possible at the lowest possible fuel consumption, or more simply put: “Go fast, save fuel”. A wide range of aircraft categories compete against each other, among them single-seat high performance gliders with retractable propulsion systems, dual-seat gliders with fixed and retractable gear and IFR-equipped four-seaters. The key to winning is finding the optimal power setting and choosing the ideal altitude for the weather conditions.
The Cup was held over a course of three days, (one training day and two competition days). The first day of competition saw the Continental team flying a triangular route of 151 nm. The course was flown at an average speed of 104 knots with a fuel consumption of 4.12 gallons/h, which sums up to 3.96 gallons/100 nm. With this result the CM team ranked 2nd, beaten only by glider with retractable propulsion under favorable thermal gliding conditions, the motor glider was able to shut down its engine for the majority of the route.
Continental won the next day on a route comprising 116 nm with strong winds, many clouds and occasional rain showers. Continentals stock CD-155, DA40 flew at an average speed of 105 knots and burned fuel at the low rate of 4.65 gallons/hr (4.43 gallons/100 nm), allowing the CM team to secure 1st place for the day and become the overall winner of the competition.
The DA40 does not have a retractable gear, which puts it at a disadvantage compared to motor gliders such as the Stemme S6 and S15. This victory is independent validation a Continental Motors CD Series engine equipped airframe offers minimum fuel consumption without sacrificing power, speed, or flexibility whatever the conditions might be.
