Although its PowerLink FADEC hasn’t met with much market acceptance, TCM says the project still has legs. As part of its certification of the TSIO-550, the company is moving forward with a FADEC-controlled turbocharged engine, according to Rhett Ross, TCM’s president. Presumably, the system would the PowerLink’s ability to control fuel pulse and ignition timing to build in detonation margin. Would it also have an electronic wastegate and prop control? “Not necessarily,” said TCM engineer Keith Chatten.
The original idea for the FADEC was to allow high-performance engines to run on low-octane, unleaded future which was thought to be threatened. Nearly two decades later, 100LL lives on, so buyers never really saw much benefit in this technology. Still, Ross believes 100LL will disappear from the market and the FADEC engine may provide better detonation margin, some fuel economy and maintenance and diagnostic capability similar to modern car engines. TCM has no set schedule, but Ross says the project remains active.
