Aero Diesels
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Aero Diesels
A couple of years ago I stumbled on a website for a manufacturer of diesel aero engines. I'm not in aviation but years ago I had a small mining operation and grew to love both diesels (reliability & durability) and light aircraft, but never in combination as far as I know!
The arguments proposed by the manufacturers seemed quite convincing when I read them at the time and naturally they indicated that certification was just around the corner (they would of course: I've owned an R&D and manufacturing business too...). I also seem to recall that one of the WW2 German aviation manufacturers installed a diesel - but maybe they're common and I'm just ignorant.
Anyone care to comment on the principle and/or the specific case I recall? Anyone testing anything? Now I'll nip off and search for the website again.
The arguments proposed by the manufacturers seemed quite convincing when I read them at the time and naturally they indicated that certification was just around the corner (they would of course: I've owned an R&D and manufacturing business too...). I also seem to recall that one of the WW2 German aviation manufacturers installed a diesel - but maybe they're common and I'm just ignorant.
Anyone care to comment on the principle and/or the specific case I recall? Anyone testing anything? Now I'll nip off and search for the website again.
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I believe there are a number of small diesel engines under evaluation at the present, all using jet fuel and not the smelly stuff used by cars. The cost and environmental problems of conventional avgas 100LL seem to be driving the many projects.
See Cirrus Design who are set to use a turbodiesel engine by a French offshoot of Renault, SMA. www.cirrusdesign.com
SMA have website www.smaengines.com
There is a British company called Wilksh, but I'm not sure of the spelling! They are based in Milton Keynes and have had their engine under test in a number of airframes.
Also, I remember seeing a homebuilt recently from Germany that had a modified Isuzu turbdiesel from an Opel Corsa.
Hope this points you in the right direction.
See Cirrus Design who are set to use a turbodiesel engine by a French offshoot of Renault, SMA. www.cirrusdesign.com
SMA have website www.smaengines.com
There is a British company called Wilksh, but I'm not sure of the spelling! They are based in Milton Keynes and have had their engine under test in a number of airframes.
Also, I remember seeing a homebuilt recently from Germany that had a modified Isuzu turbdiesel from an Opel Corsa.
Hope this points you in the right direction.
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Thanks DL26, I'll take a look, meanwhile I have discovered that the company I first encountered was/is called Zoche - they had an ambitious program. I spotted a comment in a report from Oshkosh that suggested they might be in trouble; and their website is currently u.s.
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Hi Cargo Cult
Just found another reference to diesel engines. Thielert Aircraft Engines from Germany have recently received JAR certification for a 110hp engine that runs on Jet A1 or derv. They have a 125hp and 300hp design also. The 125hp is said to burn 15 litres per hour of jet fuel compared with the equivalent avgas guzzling Lycoming which burns 33litres per hour both at 75% power. You probably know that jet fuel is about a quarter the price of avgas which is over £1 per litre at my airfield. Wish I had diesel
No web link sorry.
You might get more replys if you posted this topic on the "questions" site.
Just found another reference to diesel engines. Thielert Aircraft Engines from Germany have recently received JAR certification for a 110hp engine that runs on Jet A1 or derv. They have a 125hp and 300hp design also. The 125hp is said to burn 15 litres per hour of jet fuel compared with the equivalent avgas guzzling Lycoming which burns 33litres per hour both at 75% power. You probably know that jet fuel is about a quarter the price of avgas which is over £1 per litre at my airfield. Wish I had diesel
No web link sorry.
You might get more replys if you posted this topic on the "questions" site.
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Hi guys,
Mark Wilksch and Wilksch Airmotive developing and flight testing aerodiesel. Flight testing commenced at the end of 2000 on the Europa and beleive they hope to deliver the first production models to customers at the end of 2001.
Mark Wilksch and Wilksch Airmotive developing and flight testing aerodiesel. Flight testing commenced at the end of 2000 on the Europa and beleive they hope to deliver the first production models to customers at the end of 2001.
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You might want to check out the NASA website as well. As part of their GAP (General Avaition Propulsion) project, they have teamed up with Teledyne-Continental to develop a diesel 4-cyl powerplant with a compression ratio of 18:1, which eliminated the need for a spark/glow-plug i.e. ignition system, is very efficient, and burns Jet A or A+. It is also liquid cooled, lightweight, 25% more efficient fuel burn, and costs 50% less to manufacture than the air-cooled normally aspirated Continentals. It will also be turbocharged and will not need a mixture control. Hopefully it will be certified soon. NASA is also working with Williams on a small turbofan for use in 6-10 person jets that will be cheaper to own & operate than an equivalent piston or turboprop. Check it out (sorry I don't have the URL, just go to the NASA mainpage & follow the links).
