Electronic ignition
More power, efficiency, and reliability
That’s an impressive trick.
It’s taken decades for the electronic ignitions (EIs) pioneered in the automotive industry to make their way into airplanes, but the tipping point appears to have been reached, and engine manufacturers are now delivering new engines with EIs installed.
EIs have far fewer moving parts than magnetos, and they deliver hotter, longer-lasting sparks that burn the fuel in each cylinder more completely. The result is more power and fuel efficiency, especially at high altitude where variable timing comes into play and with less spark-plug-fouling residue.
Replacing one of each aircraft engine’s two magnetos with an EI is relatively simple and provides most of the benefit of having two EIs. With its variable timing and longer-lasting spark, a lone electronic ignition tends to do most of the work when paired with a magneto.
Installing two EIs in an aircraft engine typically requires a back-up power source, and that’s typically a secondary battery. Experimental-category aircraft owners were the first to adopt EIs, and their success has convinced several EI manufacturers to obtain FAA certification.
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