Re: Diesel aircraft engines and are the light jets pushing out the twins?

[Dude]

I don't see the fuel burn on the small turbines competing with the diesels,
but there are some attempts at getting close to the Lycosaur level.

Here is one - http://www.innodyn.com/

Don't know anything about them though.

As for light jets pushing down demand for twin piston and turbo props, you
are correct. You mentioned Diamond, and they are going straight after the
light twin and turbine single engine market with their single engine jet.
If you will accept a single engine, the economics seem to make sense to go
that route rather than with an equally expensive Piper or Beech plane.

It will be interesting to see what will happen. Some missions will likely
push folks to stick with the prop planes though.

[Thomas Borchert]

R.,

> What has happened to the development of the diesel aircraft
> engines? As far as I have seen, only Diamond has a production
> aircraft with diesel engines (they flew one across the Atlantic,
> with 5.76 gph).
>

In the European market, Diamond offers both the single-engine DA40 and
the DA42 twin with Thielert Centurion engines. More than 100 of these
engines are flying. in the US, only the DA42 is offered. Also, Thielert
in Europe offers retrofit kits for Cessna 172s and Piper Warriors. Of
those, 30 or so are flying.

All other diesels I know of are not yet available in a certified kit,
although by now the sma retrofit to the 182 might be available.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[C J Campbell]

"R. David Steele" /OMEGA> wrote in message
...
> What has happened to the development of the diesel aircraft
> engines? As far as I have seen, only Diamond has a production
> aircraft with diesel engines (they flew one across the Atlantic,
> with 5.76 gph).
>

The DA42 currently has a diesel engine, but Diamond is experimenting with a
Lycoming. Although they say that this would be for the European market only
and no decision has been made on a certification program, the fact is that
American pilots would probably be much more interested in this version. It
offers more power for about the same fuel burn and gas here is not much more
expensive than diesel.

I am very interested in one of these planes, especially the DA42 Observer
camera platform.

> And it looks like the small jets are pushing the turbo props and
> the twin piston engines. Is it a matter of time before it will
> be cheaper to just buy a small jet?

Acquisition cost is one thing; operating cost is another. Turbines use much
more fuel and are far more difficult to insure. There will always be a place
for turboprops like the Caravan or Pilatus and for small piston twins.

[Thomas Borchert]

C,

> Although they say that this would be for the European market only

AFAIK, they say just the opposite (to me, at least): The Lyc version would be
for the US market. It's also a matter of using the DA42 in a training
environment, where pilots still need to be trained for three levers, not the
single one the Thielert has.

> It
> offers more power for about the same fuel burn and gas here is not much more
> expensive than diesel.
>

Huh? Same fuel burn? Hardly.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Kees Mies]

Thomas Borchert > wrote in message >...
> All other diesels I know of are not yet available in a certified kit,
> although by now the sma retrofit to the 182 might be available.
There is at least one, I believe it is either a C172 or C182.
I can not tell the difference, all planes with the wings on top are
just cessnas to me.
Anyway, it is used as a jump plane operating from Seppe(EHSE) with a
SMA engine.
Call sign PH-PAC.

-Kees

[Ted Azito]

>
> AFAIK, they say just the opposite (to me, at least): The Lyc version would be
> for the US market. It's also a matter of using the DA42 in a training
> environment, where pilots still need to be trained for three levers, not the
> single one the Thielert has.

In a sane world the rule would be "single pilot IFR=single lever power control".