Evolution of Light Gas Turbine Engine During the Last-30 Years

When comparing the turboshaft and piston engine advantages from the technical and economic point of view, we are led to the conclusion that the turboshaft engine, with its regular improvement in performance, will quickly replace the piston engine in the power range from 300 to 500 shp, just as it has already done in the rest of field. Similarly, what happened with helicopters, where the piston engine has been completely abandoned when the Aerospatiale Alouette II - fitted with a Turbomeca Artouste II - showed the indisputable superiority of the turboshaft engine, will happen again with light aircraft as soon as operators have the opportunity to see for themselves the undeniable advantages - hereunder highlighted - which the turboprop engine offers.