Mistral Engines Suspends Development of Rotary

Citing economic difficulties, Mistral Engines announced today that it was suspending the development of its line of rotary aircraft engines and seeking investors to take over the program.

According to the company, “Mistral Engines has announced that due to the shortage of funding, the Board of Directors has voted to put an immediate hold on its efforts to develop and certify the all-new, 300 horsepower, G-300 rotary aircraft engine. The Mistral Engine concept has been in development for the past 10-years. Prior to the decision to cease operations, the company had entered into the final stages testing and had expected to receive FAA certification of the G-300 in the first quarter of 2011.”

The 300-horsepower, G-300 was the first of a family of new-technology rotary engines under development by Mistral. The rotary engines range from 200 to 360 hp. The engine flew test hours on the front of a Piper Arrow and has racked up scores of hours on the test stand.