Definition
Thielert Aircraft Engines (TAE) was a German manufacturer that developed certified diesel-cycle aircraft engines designed to run on jet fuel (Jet A) rather than aviation gasoline. Their Centurion series engines were installed in light aircraft such as the Diamond DA40 and DA42, and represented one of the first widely certified modern diesel powerplants for general aviation. The company's assets were later acquired and the engine line continued under the name Continental Diesel (now part of Continental Aerospace Technologies).
Plain English
TAE was a company that built small aircraft engines that burn jet fuel instead of avgas, similar in principle to a car diesel engine. Their engines became a well-known option for light aircraft looking to use jet fuel.
Context Anchor
Seen in reciprocating engine discussions when the handbook talks about different kinds of piston aircraft engines and the companies that make them.
Derivation
Named after the company's founder, Frank Thielert. The name itself is simply the company name; what matters in the handbook is recognizing TAE as a specific manufacturer of jet-fuel piston engines, not a generic engine type.
Why Pilots Care
These engines allow some piston aircraft to use widely available jet fuel, which can reduce operating costs and improve fuel availability on certain routes.
Intuition Check
Do not read TAE as an engine part or a system name. In this context, it is the abbreviation for an engine manufacturer: Thielert Aircraft Engines.
Example Sentence 1
The flight school's DA42 trainers are powered by TAE Centurion engines, which let them fill up with jet fuel instead of avgas.
Example Sentence 2
Chapter 7 notes that TAE engines represent one approach to modern diesel power in light aircraft.