Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

Wisconsin-based EPS (Engineered Propulsion Systems) Diesel expects to complete the FAA certification process by the end of this year for its Graflight 8 engine. The 320- to 420-hp engine features a&nbsp;“Flat Vee” configuration that fits many legacy single- or twin-engine general aviation piston aircraft. It incorporates innovations&nbsp;such as a patented glow plug, a new firing order, a carbon/steel crankcase and software that will monitor all engine functions. EPS's path toward a type certificate has been layered with the process that will lead to a production certificate. The company expects to have a production line operating early next year . Initially, it will manufacture engines for OEMs, but it anticipates developing STCs in parallel with that activity for the retrofit market. In an effort to determine which three aircraft it should select first for STCs,&nbsp;EPS is seeking pilot input at <a href="http://www.eps.aero/">www.eps.aero</a>.

 


As it readies to ramp up production, EPS has expanded its facilities. The latest addition is a two-story hangar at the New Richmond (Wisconsin) Regional Airport (KRNH) that adds a total of nearly 15,000 sq ft to the company's original 9,000-sq-ft hangar. The new structure will be used for engine testing and developing STCs for existing aircraft models. The facility will host modern-design AC dynamometers and data acquisition systems (DAQ). The new addition also has outdoor test capabilities providing propeller test stands equipped with data acquisition systems and space for EPS’s&nbsp;mobile engine test laboratory. Earlier this year the administrative staff moved into a new, larger office space. EPS also has a fourth facility that has been used for concept and conforming engine assembly. Later this year, the company will break ground for a manufacturing building purposed for producing certified engines.

 


In May, EPS was awarded a $2.99 million USAF contract under the service's&nbsp;Rapid Innovation Fund Aircraft Engine Sustainment Technologies Solicitation, a program designed to develop technologies that match Air Force fuel-burn-reduction goals. EPS intends to leverage the Graflight 8 to develop a new aviation-specific lightweight four-cylinder heavy fuel engine that can be used in unmanned aircraft and in converting existing aircraft to logistically supportable fuels.

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News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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