There are approximately 250,000 aircraft registered in the United States. Today, the majority are powered by one of two types of powerplants; either a reciprocating engine or a turbine engine. Each has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages.
There is, however, a distinct gap between the two types of engines that has had a negative impact on aircraft development. Currently, there are no reciprocating engines in production that produce more than 400 horsepower. Consequently, an aircraft design requiring more than 400 horsepower must use a turbine engine, which at 3-4 times the price of a reciprocating engine, can make the project economically prohibitive.
To supply this higher horsepower without the additional cost, Hawker Siddeley Canada, Orenda Division is developing a 500-750 horsepower V-8 reciprocating engine designed for aviation. That engine is presently being certified by Transport Canada and the FAA and will be offered as a retrofit as well as for new aircraft. The market for such an engine is anticipated to be over 5,000 engines.
Because of its unique power range, significant demand is also anticipated in the marine, truck, bus and military vehicle markets.