The Aero-Engine for the New Millenium...

Imagine an aero-engine that doesn't need priming for start, no ignition to worry about, no carburettor icing problems and no mixture to fiddle with! Add to that substantial reductions in running costs, improved reliability and at the same time more environmentally friendly. 

 On the 2 July 1999 at the UK's Popular Flying Association Rally, just such an engine was unveiled fully installed on a Europa kit-plane, the new Wilksch Airmotive 'WAM-120'. This engine is a three-cylinder advanced two stroke, which burns both Diesel and Avtur, and will be turbo-charged for good hot/high power and performance.

In January 1996, the new Wilksch-CITEC (Compression Ignition Turbo Exhaust Charged)™ engine ran for the first time in two-cylinder form. After installing one on a Piper J3 the first flight was achieved on 21 November 1997, with flight-testing complete by February 1998. It was the first new generation two-stroke Diesel engine to fly in 50 years!

The man behind the project is Mark Wilksch who left Cosworth in 1993, and with the aid of DTI grants, set up Wilksch Airmotive in 1994. Together with Martin Long and Mike Costin, the company's focus is now on developing the 120 hp, three-cylinder version of the engine.  In addition to being well suited to the ever-growing home-build market, the scope for replacing existing 'aged' powerplants is vast. To this end Airmotive have an agreement with Atlantic Aeroengineering, to power one of its Cessna 150 aircraft, thus demonstrating the Wilksch-CITEC™ powerplant in a certified aircraft.

The PFA Rally also saw formal acceptance of a £300,000 grant, from the Aerospace and Defence Industries Directorate of the DTI, to assist in the development and testing of the 'CITEC™' family of engines.