Superior Air Parts

File:SuperiorXP360.jpg engine for homebuilt aircraft]]

File:Superior Vantage.jpg type certified engine]]

Superior Air Parts started as a manufacturer of valve guides in 1967. The company branched out into FAA/PMA approved parts for general aviation aircraft. The company manufactures replacement parts for Lycoming and Continental aircraft engines. The cylinder assemblies use newer cylinder head alloys and fully hardened cylinder liners.{{cite journal|journal=Flying|date=August 1996|author=J. Mac Mclellan|title=A Superior Solution?}} Most of the company's production is outsourced, with Superior ensuring that the parts meet their engineering and testing standards.{{cite journal|journal=Flying|title=Talking About GPS, PMA|date=January 1993|page=8}}

The company was bought by the German engine manufacturer Thielert, in 2006. Thielert was seeking a parts distribution network in North America, as part of its effort to sell its Centurion diesel aircraft engine series. Thielert already had a business relationship with Superior, as it had been engaged in the production of Superior's after-market engine cylinders.{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/AVwebInsiderBlog_ThielertBoardSteamed_197721-1.html|title =Thielert's Board is Steamed, and Here's Why That's Not Good |accessdate = 18 April 2018|last = Bertorelli |first = Paul|work = AVweb|date = 24 April 2008}}

In 2008, Superior Air Parts' parent company Thielert declared bankruptcy, Superior itself filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on 31 December 2008 and laid off many of its staff. In August 2010, Superior was sold to Superior Aviation Beijing for US$7M. Superior Aviation Beijing is 60% owned by Superior Aviation Beijing Chairman Cheng Shenzong and 40% by Beijing E-Town, an economic development agency of Beijing's municipal government. Tim Archer, the former marketing and sales VP for Superior became the new CEO for the US subsidiary and oversaw the establishment of a piston engine production facility in Beijing.{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/ThielertRecoveringFromInsolvency_CompanySays_199535-1.html|title =Thielert Recovering From Insolvency, Company Says |accessdate = 18 April 2018|last = Grady |first = Mary|work = AVweb|date = 7 January 2009}}{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/SuperiorChapter11_199515-1.html|title =Superior Chapter 11: Still Shipping Parts, For Now |accessdate = 18 April 2018|last = Bertorelli |first = Paul|work = AVweb|date = 5 January 2009}}{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/SuperiorAviation_SuperiorAirports_ReturnsWithChineseFunding_203065-1.html|title =Superior Airparts Returns with Chinese Funding |accessdate = 18 April 2018|last = Bertorelli |first = Paul|work = AVweb|date = 2 August 2010}}{{cite web|url = http://www.businessinsider.com/the-helicopter-king-of-china-is-quietly-building-an-empire-2012-7?op=1|title = The 'Helicopter King Of China' Is Quietly Building An Empire|accessdate = 18 April 2018|author= The Associated Press|author-link= The Associated Press|work = Business Insider|date = 13 July 2012}}{{cite web|url = https://corporatejetinvestor.com/articles/why_superior_aviation_bid_for_hawker_beechcraft_failed_789/|title = Update: Superior Aviation's bid for Hawker Beechcraft died in Beijing|accessdate = 18 April 2018|last = Whyte|first = Alasdair |work = Corporate Jet Investor|date = 24 October 2012}}

At AirVenture 2012 CEO Tim Archer announced that the company was recovering from its bankruptcy and that the Chinese investment had been critical in that turn around. The company was at that time able to ship almost 90% of parts in its catalog and was training Chinese technicians in Vantage engine production for the Asian market.{{cite news|url = http://www.avweb.com/news/airventure/EAAAirVenture2012_Superior_Air_Parts_Recovery_207026-1.html|title = Superior Air Parts: Uptick in Sales Fuels Recovery|accessdate = 24 July 2012|last = Bertorelli|first = Paul|date = 15 July 2012| work = AVweb}}

In March 2019 the Superior Air Parts XP-400 and Superior Air Parts XP-382 engines were withdrawn from service and all customer engines were subject to a mandatory, immediate buy-back by the company to remove them from service. The company made this decision based on detonation problems found in some XP-400 engines that could not be resolved. Due to parts commonality, the decision was made to buy-back the XP-382 engines as well.{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Superior-Grounds-XP-382-and-XP-400-Engines-232357-1.html|title = Superior Grounds XP-382 And XP-400 Engines|access-date = 4 March 2019|last = O'Connor|first = Kate|work = AVweb|date = 1 March 2019}}{{cite web|url = http://flash.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Detonation-Concerns-Superiors-Buyback-of-XP-400-and-XP-382-Engines-232603-1.html|title = Detonation Concerns Behind Superior's Buyback Of XP-400 And XP-382 Engines|access-date = 10 April 2019|last = Cook|first = Marc|work = AVweb|date = 1 March 2019}}

In February 2020, Superior settled a lawsuit regarding the 2016 fatal crash of a Van's Aircraft RV-8A for US$5M. The crash was due to the failure of the crankshaft in the installed XP-400 engine. In the accident investigation the NTSB determined that the crankshaft failed due to metal fatigue. The crankshaft had 20 hours of flight time on it at the time of failure.{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/superior-settles-one-xp-400-lawsuit/|title = Superior Settles One XP-400 Lawsuit|access-date = 12 February 2020|last = Cook|first = Marc|work =AVweb |date = 11 February 2020|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20200212145044/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/superior-settles-one-xp-400-lawsuit/|archivedate = 12 February 2020}}

The company has developed a series of non-certified engines for light-sport aircraft and homebuilt aircraft, including the {{convert|160|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} XP-320, {{convert|180|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} XP-360, {{convert|200|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} XP-382 and the {{convert|215|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} XP-400. A line of diesel engines is under development, including the {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Gemini Diesel 100 and {{convert|125|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Gemini Diesel 125.Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, pages 262-263. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}

The XP-360 was developed into a certified engine design, the Superior O-360, marketed as the Vantage and certified in 2004.{{cite web|title=New Kid on Block|url=http://www.aviationpros.com/article/10386569/new-kid-on-the-block-superiors-vantage-engine-receives-faa-type-certification|accessdate=22 August 2014|last=Escobar|first=Joe|date=1 May 2004|work=aviationpros.com}}{{cite web|url = http://www.superiorairparts.com/downloads/vantageengine/Type%20Certificate%20E00001SC.pdf|title = Type certificate|accessdate = 17 April 2018|author=Federal Aviation Administration|author-link=Federal Aviation Administration|date = 31 March 2004 }}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|http://www.superiorairparts.com/}}
• [http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Superior-Launches-Diesel-Engine-Line-223925-1.html New diesel engine], [http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/Superiors-Diesel-Entry-223948-1.html with some similarity] to the Junkers Jumo 205. [http://www.avweb.com/videos/Video-Superiors-New-Gemini-Diesel-223933-1.html Video]

{{Superior Air Parts}}

Category:Aircraft engine manufacturers of the United States

Category:Companies based in Coppell, Texas