Hello everyone,
the quest for diesel-power is not so much for "true diesel power" as in "compression ignited fuelmix", but for an engine that is substantially cheaper than a turbine and can "eat" Jet-A or Diesel.
Gasoline costs are getting out of hand in a lot of parts of the world.
In Europe, a diesel conversion that costs twice as much as a new gasoline engine is amortized in less than 300 hrs flying!!
Jet-A is cheap and available everywhere.
So it is not necessary to have a REAL Diesel engine, but rather one that can burn Jet-A/Diesel in some way...
I guess Mistral-engines of Switzerland will be the first to certify a Jet-A powered engine at about the same cost as the Lycosaurus engines.
As far as I understand the engines are rotary-design (like the Mazda rotary car engines). Naturally aspirated or turbocharged 2 and 3 rotor engines from 190hp to 360hp, gasoline or Diesel/Jet-A burning.
The Jet-A versions will have a computer controlled fuel injection AND IGNITION! So it does not need the diesels inherent need for ultrastrong structure.
A relative low overhaul-cost after a 3000 hr TBO should help to float the product too. Certification for the gas-powered 2-rotor engines is expected for 2005.
Mistral also flys a Turbo Arrow III with Embry Riddle in FL, no problems so far (this is a gas-powered one....)
The Jet-A burner is running on the dyno already.....
Check it out!!
http://www.mistral-engines.com/
3top
PS: The Mistral engines match or beat the power-equivalent Lyc/Cont engines with installed weight incl. systems - cooling, etc.