OZ diesel?
At Avalon Airshow 2005, an Australian aircraft diesel was on display. I believe it was aimed at R22 and R44 size helicopters. The four cyclinder produced about the same as the Beta II and six cylinder was in the R44 power class.
Although slightly heavier, it uses less fuel. As a turbocharged engine it can hold its puff to 15,000 ft and then fades away to 70% power at 30,000 ft.
Real Robbie sky up there!
Diesels have better fuel flow, cheaper fuel, cost more to buy, a little heavier, need less fuel on board, cheaper maintenance and maybe better emmissions?
About $35 per hour less over 2,200 hours in an R22 is suggested. Not a great deal, but if fuel prices go the way they are??
I am not sure if it is going into production, but their website has some comparions to pistons, a good topic for a rainy day crewroom discussion - at least you can get a feel for a diesel versas piston versas turbine.
Maybe Frank's R66 or such may have one of these smelly rubber bands?
Trouble is new engines need years of regulator paper work and testing to get certified. Our CASA now undergoing another reorganisation, move of HQ and spilling of many positions, may not have the HP to carry any serious downunder development work.
After all we gave the Victa Air Trainer to NZ and canned the Nomad which with more work could have been a saleable aircraft.
Today, it was announced we may bin the Navy Seasprite project - it has only cost us US$750 so far.
Any other diesel versas petrol power units ideas.