Austrian engine builder Austro Engine achieved a significant milestone in December, passing five million hours of operational service from their aero engines.
The Diamond-owned manufacturer has been tracking flight hours since 2009, and currently has more than 5500 engines in service around the world.
Austro manufactures the engines at a factory in Wiener Neustadt in Austria, mostly modifying Mercedes Benz diesels to suit aviation requirements. The engines are installed in the Diamond range of GA singles and twins.
Austro General Manager Jürgen Schwarz said the five million-hour milestone was significant for the company.
"Reaching 5 million flight hours is a testament to the reliability and innovation behind our engines,” he said. “We are proud to support Diamond Aircraft and operators worldwide with powerplants that deliver exceptional performance and efficiency, day after day.
"Our engine are operated world-wide in more than 80 countries, and typical uses of our engines are training schools, flight schools, professional operators, MPP users, special missions, as well as private owners and business travel."
Diamond Aircraft was an early adopter of newer diesel technology, originally fitting Lichtenstein-built Thielert diesels before establishing Austro Engine to modify Mercedes automotive engines.
Thielert later went backrupt, with Continental buying the remains of the company in 2013.
Austro produces the 168-hp, two-litre AE300, which powers the DA40 single and DA42 twin, and the 180-hp AE330, which is fitted to the seven-seat DA62 twin.
The larger DA50 single utilises Continental's CD300 diesel.
The company also produces the AE50R, a 55-hp rotary engine, and has under development the 110-hp AE110R rotary. Both engines are designed for UAVs.
– Steve Hitchen