Parked up at Matamata was this Cessna 172 ZK-VAT of Middle Earth Flying School.
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However it is not a standard 172 because it is powered by a Continental Turbocharged Diesel Silentium 155 engine that drinks Jet A1 fuel. It also has a high performance MTV composite propellor. And then of course it features the engine painted on the cowling.
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The diesel engine gives an extraordinary range of over 8 hours at 80% power, using around 24 litres per hour.
There is a link to the local agent Oceania Aviation's website about flying the 172 Diesel Silentium series at : https://oceaniasite.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/flying-the-172-diesel-silentium-series/ for more detail, including a non-stop flight from Ardmore to Queenstown!
There is a link to the local agent Oceania Aviation's website about flying the 172 Diesel Silentium series at : https://oceaniasite.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/flying-the-172-diesel-silentium-series/ for more detail, including a non-stop flight from Ardmore to Queenstown!