Mike Schumann
June 30th 03, 11:33 PM
Retrofitting diesels on existing airplanes doesn't make much sense in the
US, where the fuel cost differences between 100LL and Jet-A are relatively
small. However, using diesels on new airplanes makes a lot of sense. If
you look at the price of a Diamond plane in Europe, the diesel version is
actually about $5,000 cheaper than the same airplane with a Lycoming engine.
For less money, you get better mileage and FADEC. For an FBO or a flying
club, that has a lot of pilots putting a lot of hours on their airplanes,
saving money on gas, and potentially saving on maitnenance because pilots
are not over-leaning or shock cooling the engines, could make a BIG
difference in the operating costs of the planes.
Mike Schumann
"Thomas Borchert" > wrote in message
...
> > They are pricey now (although still lots cheaper
> > than turbines)
> >
>
> They are? You consider 40,000 $ one-time retrofit cost on a 172 and
> 20,000 $ replacement cost after 2400 hours (with a full guarantee for
> those 2400 hours) expensive, compared to your average Lycoming with
> Pete knows how many top overhauls until TBO? I'm not sure...
>
> --
> Thomas Borchert (EDDH)
>
>
US, where the fuel cost differences between 100LL and Jet-A are relatively
small. However, using diesels on new airplanes makes a lot of sense. If
you look at the price of a Diamond plane in Europe, the diesel version is
actually about $5,000 cheaper than the same airplane with a Lycoming engine.
For less money, you get better mileage and FADEC. For an FBO or a flying
club, that has a lot of pilots putting a lot of hours on their airplanes,
saving money on gas, and potentially saving on maitnenance because pilots
are not over-leaning or shock cooling the engines, could make a BIG
difference in the operating costs of the planes.
Mike Schumann
"Thomas Borchert" > wrote in message
...
> > They are pricey now (although still lots cheaper
> > than turbines)
> >
>
> They are? You consider 40,000 $ one-time retrofit cost on a 172 and
> 20,000 $ replacement cost after 2400 hours (with a full guarantee for
> those 2400 hours) expensive, compared to your average Lycoming with
> Pete knows how many top overhauls until TBO? I'm not sure...
>
> --
> Thomas Borchert (EDDH)
>
>