FADEC in light propellor aircraft

[NickN]

Does anybody know which light aircraft (prop only) are fitted with FADEC?

[Nicholas Togias]

Hey, the Diamond Twin star (DA42) is fitted with FADEC, thats the only one I know of, I'm sure there'd be more

[Mick F]

As far as I am aware Nick, FADEC is only fitted on some diesel engine equipped light aircraft. So aircraft like the Twinstar as Nicholas has eluded to.

The traditional light aircraft engines don't really have the provision for FADEC, and due to the expense, no one has really done terribly much investigating with it.

Mick

[NickN]

I was just asking after reading the following quote.....

FADECs today are employed by almost all current generation jet engines and increasingly in newer piston engines, on fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

In piston-engine powered aircraft, the system replaces both magnetos, making obsolete repetitive and costly magneto maintenance, and eliminates carburetor heat, mixture controls and engine priming. By controlling each cylinder of the engine independently for optimum fuel injection and spark timing, the need for the pilot to monitor and control mixture is eliminated. Because imprecise mixture operation can affect engine life, the FADEC has the potential to reduce operating costs and increase engine life for the average General Aviation pilot. Tests have also shown significant fuel savings potential. FADEC paid for itself in reduced operating costs.[

It made it sound like FADEC was becoming more common in light piston engine aircraft.

[Mick F]

It may be more common in the US, however I have never heard of any GA (other than diesel powered) aircraft being fitted with FADEC in Australia.

Mick